Christmas with Your Dog: 5 Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday

Key Takeaways

• Quiet retreat: Make sure your dog has a calm place to relax during the hectic holiday season.
• Avoid poisonous plants: Poinsettias, mistletoe, and Christmas roses are toxic to dogs and should be placed out of reach.
• Safe decorations: Use LED candles instead of real ones and make sure the Christmas tree is secure and decorations are dog-proof.
• No holiday dinner for the dog: Don't share table scraps, especially bones, with your dog to avoid health risks.
• Keep sweets safely stored: Chocolate and Christmas biscuits are dangerous for dogs and should be kept out of reach.

But the preparations don't just mean stress for you — they also affect your four-legged friend. After all, the preparations and the holidays themselves turn their entire daily routine upside down.

Create a Stress-Free Environment

Holidays can be loud and hectic. Make sure your dog has a quiet spot where they can retreat at any time. A cosy dog bed in a calm room away from the festivities gives them the chance to relax and escape the stress.

Give your dog long walks. Extended walks are not only a great way to give your dog exercise but also a break from the hectic atmosphere at home. Use the quiet morning or evening hours for long walks where they can sniff to their heart's content and explore the surroundings. No holiday shopping with the dog! As tempting as it may be to take your dog along for Christmas shopping, the loud noises, crowds, and hectic environment can be very stressful for them. Leave your dog at home where they can stay in their familiar, calm surroundings.

Holiday markets and fairs are off-limits for dogs! Just like holiday shopping, festive markets and outdoor fairs are not a suitable place for dogs. The many people, loud music, and smells can quickly overwhelm your dog. There's also the risk of them getting hurt by dropped food or broken glass. Walks in quieter areas are a much better choice.

Eliminating Dangers for Your Dog at Christmas

Stress isn't the only problem. The Christmas season also poses real dangers. We'll show you what to watch out for so you and your dog don't end up at the emergency vet.

1. Avoid Toxic Plants

Plants like mistletoe, Christmas roses, and poinsettias are toxic to dogs. Here you'll find more plants that are poisonous to dogs. During the Christmas season, the poinsettia is especially popular. This decorative houseplant belongs to the spurge family. Its leaves and stems contain a toxic milky sap. If your dog nibbles on the plant, it can lead to poisoning.

Symptoms of poisoning

• Vomiting
• Excessive drooling
• Diarrhoea
• Cramps
• Trembling
• In rare cases, paralysis If your dog has chewed on your poinsettia, you should see a vet immediately as a precaution. In the worst case, poisoning from the milky sap of the poinsettia can lead to pulmonary oedema or even death.

If you don't want to give up poinsettias, mistletoe, and Christmas roses, make sure to place the plants well out of your dog's reach. You can find more about poisoning in dogs (types, tips, and symptoms) here.

2. Use LED Candles

Beeswax candles radiate a special cosiness. That's why many families use real candles on their Christmas tree and Advent wreath. But with a dog in the house, open flames are a significant safety risk. Don't want to give up the ambience? Then make sure to place candles well out of your dog's reach. Never leave your dog unsupervised around burning candles.

The coffee table is not a suitable spot for an Advent wreath: if your dog runs around, they could knock the wreath off the table. If they wag their tail over the candles, they could set themselves or the tablecloth on fire. If they chew on a candle, the swallowed wax can cause intestinal blockages. To avoid these dangers, use LED candles. There are now models that look remarkably realistic. It's definitely the safer option for your furry friend.

What to do for burns

If your dog has been burned by a candle, follow these steps:

• Cool the burn with lukewarm water. (Warning: do not use ice-cold water or ice!)
• Do not apply burn ointments or wound powder.
• Take your dog to the vet as quickly as possible. The true extent of a burn often only becomes apparent later.

3. Don't Feed Your Dog the Holiday Roast

Christmas goose, turkey, and duck may taste delicious to the human family members. But these dishes have no place in the dog bowl. The meat and gravy are too heavily seasoned for your dog. Your dog could vomit or get diarrhoea after eating them.

Don't give your dog leftovers from the holiday feast. If the meat scraps contain bones, your dog could swallow them. Bones can splinter. The sharp-edged pieces could injure your dog's windpipe, oesophagus, or cause intestinal injuries. Instead, treat your dog to dried beef or rabbit ears. Or get them a raw, meaty bone.

4. Put Away Chocolate and Biscuits

Chocolate is toxic to dogs and can be fatal. It contains theobromine. Dogs break down this ingredient from the cocoa bean very slowly. Particularly dangerous are chocolate varieties with high theobromine content, including dark chocolate and baking chocolate.

If your dog has eaten a significant amount of chocolate, act immediately:

• Did it just happen? As a first aid measure, give your dog activated charcoal tablets. These bind toxins.
• Contact your vet or drive your dog directly to an emergency veterinary clinic.
• Bring the chocolate remnants or packaging so the vet can estimate the theobromine content and the amount consumed.
• If your dog vomits or passes urine or stool, take samples with you. In addition to chocolate, holiday biscuits contain many other ingredients that can be harmful to your dog. These include sugar, cinnamon, and bitter almonds. Make sure your dog doesn't eat raw or baked biscuits. Don't leave treat plates out in the open or within reach.

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning

• Hyperactivity
• Increased thirst
• Diarrhoea, vomiting, and excessive urination
• Restlessness
• Rapid heartbeat and cardiac arrhythmia
• Trembling and cramps
• Shortness of breath and loss of consciousness Find out what other foods are toxic to your dog here.

5. Eliminate Dangers from the Christmas Tree

The lovingly decorated Christmas tree can also be dangerous for your dog: Is the tree standing securely? Or might it topple over if your enthusiastic dog sniffs at it or brushes against it with their tail? Decorations made of plastic and metal can contain toxic substances. If your dog swallows them, they ingest these substances. There's a risk of stomach or intestinal blockage.

Broken glass baubles can cause injuries to the mouth or paws in the worst case. If your dog laps up water from the tree stand, they could ingest harmful substances. Another risk is tinsel and gift ribbons: if your dog swallows individual strands, it can lead to intestinal blockage. Young, playful dogs especially love to chew on these.

Making the Christmas tree safe

• Hang baubles and ornaments out of your dog's reach.
• Wood ornaments are less dangerous than plastic or metal.
• Avoid tinsel.
• Make sure your dog can't drink water from the tree stand.
• Don't leave your dog alone with wrapped presents under the Christmas tree.

Conclusion

Christmas poses certain risks for your dog. When planning the family celebrations and decorating the home, remember that certain plants, candles, and decorations can be dangerous for your four-legged friend. To make the Christmas tree, wreath, and other decorations as safe as possible, opt for natural, non-hazardous materials and use LED candles.

It's best not to leave your dog alone with the Christmas tree, and always put away treat plates, sweets, and food scraps. This prevents your furry friend from helping themselves and potentially ending up at the emergency vet. In connection with Christmas, you might be interested in our article Tips for a Relaxed New Year's Eve with Your Dog. Enjoy reading and putting our tips into practice.