Hidden Holiday Dangers For Dogs

The holidays are right around the corner, bringing some weeks of relaxation and enjoyment for you. But keeping that in mind, you should know about the dangers the holidays can bring for your precious pet.

There are certain items around the house that can be hazardous for your dog, causing a lot of chaos and stress in case your dog happens to discover them.

Take a note of the items and foods listed below to know what you should avoid putting onto your shelves or wherever your dog can reach up to those items. After reading this article, you may need to declutter a bit or else get ready to just avoid putting those things within reach of your pet.

Pet-proofing your house might seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it. You can avoid making an urgent visit to a veterinarian, which means you’ll have more time to spend with your dog.

Also, you know what’s good for your dog and what’s not. For example, any guests you have over might not know that grapes aren’t good for your dog, although you do. So, it’s important to make sure your visitors know what things your dog needs to avoid.

Here are some of the hidden holiday dangers for your dog that you might want to watch out for:

HOLIDAY DECOR

Light and Candles

If your puppy or dog is one of those dogs who likes to chew a lot of different things, then you will need to adjust any cords and lightning fixtures that are holiday-specific. Try to adjust them in a way that your pet doesn’t notice them too much – it would be even better if they’re not within reach. Not only that, candles are a big no-no if they’re within reach! Make sure you keep candles away from your dog’s reach.

Gift Wrapping and Decorations

Leftover gift wrapping on the floor should be cleaned up before your dog notices them. It’s not really about the paper, but the bits of tape that are left that can be a huge problem! Also, make sure to watch out for Christmas tree decorations and any other decorative items.

Plants

Plants like Holly or Mistletoe can be quite dangerous if consumed by your pet. Diarrhea, vomiting, and heart problems can occur in both dogs and cats if they eat the leaves.

DANGEROUS FOODS

Chocolate

Chocolate is very unhealthy for your dog, since it can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Even more serious effects include hyperactivity, tremors, anxiousness, seizures, stumbling, and abnormal heart rhythms. Make sure any visitors know not to feed chocolate to your dog.

Not only that, the candy wrappers are extremely hazardous! They can cause severe damage to your pet’s intestines.

Salty Foods

Your dog might drool over when he sees some ham or gravy, but you need to avoid these foods because they can cause pancreatitis. Salty food or rich, fatty food needs to be avoided.

Bones

Some bones such as turkey bones can be unhealthy for your dog too, since they can splinter after being cooked. This can result in obstruction or tears in your dog’s intestinal tract. Get your pup a new dog bone and let them enjoy themselves away from the kitchen.

Alcohol

Do not give alcohol to your dog, cat, hamster or your horse (despite what Toby Keith might have to say); animals shouldn’t ever be drinking alcohol-period! It’s extremely unhealthy for your pets, and even small amounts of wine or alcohol can cause a coma or sudden death. Symptoms can actually appear in 15-30 minutes and usually involve vomiting, lethargy, and an unsteady gait. If your dog consumes any alcohol, visit your vet as soon as possible.

Xylitol

Some baked goods or other food items that claim to be sugar-free such as sugar-free gum have an artificial xylitol that can cause a huge drop in your dog’s blood sugar. This causes vomiting, collapse, lethargy, seizures, and weakness. The signs appear under half an hour. Be on the lookout for these kinds of snacks and save your dog.

Now you know what kind of holiday items and food is unhealthy for your furry friend. A bit of prevention can avoid a lot of problems!