Christmas with dog: 5 tips for a stress-free celebration
- Claudia Weise
- Updated: 29 January, 2023
Christmas time upsets your dog's daily routine? We show what dangers the most beautiful holiday of the year means for your dog. We also give you 5 tips on how your dog can survive Christmas Eve and the Christmas holidays without stress.
For human family members Christmas is an exciting time: the house is festively decorated. The whole family comes together, there are gifts and a special feast. The organization takes time.
However, the preparations mean not only stress for you, but also for your four-legged friend. After all, the holiday preparations and the holidays themselves upset his entire daily routine.
Eliminate dangers for your dog at Christmas
Stress is not the only problem. Christmas also brings with it a number of dangers. We show you what you should watch out for so that you don't end up in the emergency room with your four-legged friend.
1. renounce poisonous plants
Plants such as mistletoe, Christmas roses and poinsettias are toxic to dogs. Learning how to call over your dog you will find other plants that are poisonous for your dog.
Poinsettia is especially popular at Christmas time. This decorative houseplant belongs to the spurge family. Its leaves and branches contain a poisonous milky sap. If your dog nibbles on the plant, it can lead to poisoning.
Symptoms of poisoning:
- Vomiting
- Strong salivation
- Diarrhea
- Cramps
- Trembling
- Rare: Paralytic symptoms
Did your dog chew on your poinsettia, contact a veterinarian immediately to be on the safe side. In the worst case, poisoning with the milky sap of poinsettia will lead to pulmonary edema or even death of your pet.
If you don't want to miss out on poinsettias, mistletoe and Christmas roses, place these plants out of reach of your dog.
By the way, more details about poisoning a dog (types, tips and symptoms) you will find here.
2. use LED candles
Beeswax candles exude a special coziness. For this reason, some families rely on real candles for the Christmas tree and Advent wreath.
But with a dog in the house, open flames pose a high safety risk.
You don't want to do without the scent? Then make sure to place candles only out of reach of your four-legged friend. Do not leave your furry friend with burning candles unattended.
The coffee table is not a suitable place for an Advent wreath: When romping, the dog could knock the wreath off the table. If he wags his tail over the candles, he may set himself or the tablecloth on fire. If he nibbles on the candle, the swallowed wax could lead to a blockage.
Do you want to avoid these dangers, use LED candles. Meanwhile, there are models that look relatively realistic. In any case, it's safer for your furry friend.
Measures in the event of a burn
- If your dog has burned himself on a candle, the best way to proceed is as follows:
- Cool the area with lukewarm water. (Attention: do not use ice-cold water or ice!).
- Refrain from using burn ointments and wound powders.
Take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. The true extent of burns often becomes apparent later.
3. do not feed the dog with the feast roast
Christmas goose, turkey and duck are delicious for human family members. However, these foods have no place in the dog's bowl. Because the meat and the sauce are too spicy for your furry nose. Your four-legged friend might vomit or get diarrhea after eating it.
Do not give him the leftovers of your feast. If there are bones in the leftover meat, your dog may swallow them. Bones could splinter. The sharp-edged parts could injure the trachea and esophagus of your furry nose or lead to intestinal injuries.
Make your pet happy with dried beef or rabbit ears instead. Or get him a raw meaty bone.
4. put away chocolate and cookies
Chocolate is toxic to your dog and can be fatal. It contains Theobromine. Dogs break down this ingredient from the cocoa bean only slowly. Types of chocolate that contain a lot of theobromine are particularly dangerous. These include dark chocolate and cooking chocolate.
If your dog has eaten a large amount of chocolate, you should act immediately:
- Has the consumption just happened? Then give your four-legged friend as First aid measure Charcoal tablets. These bind toxins.
- Contact your veterinarian or drive directly to the veterinary clinic with your pelt nose.
- Take the remains of the chocolate or the packaging with youso that the veterinarian can estimate the level of theobromine and the amount consumed.
- If your dog vomits, urinates or defecates, take samples of it with you.
There are many ingredients in cookies besides chocolate that are harmful to your dog. These include sugar, cinnamon and bitter almonds.
Make sure your dog does not eat raw or baked cookies. Do not leave "colorful plates" open or within reach.
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning:
- Hyperactivity
- Increased thirst
- Diarrhea, vomiting and heavy urine output
- Unrest
- Accelerated heartbeat and cardiac arrhythmias
- Tremors and seizures
- Breathing difficulties and impaired consciousness
5. eliminate dangers from the Christmas tree
The lovingly decorated Christmas tree can also be dangerous for your four-legged friend: Is the silver fir standing securely? Or will it fall over when your enthusiastic four-legged friend sniffs it or brushes it with his tail?
Decorative parts from plastic and metal may contain toxic substances. If your dog swallows them, he will ingest these ingredients. There is a risk of gastric or intestinal obstruction.
Broken glass balls at worst cause injuries in the mouth or on the paws.
If your furry friend slurps water from the Christmas tree stand, he or she may be ingesting hazardous substances.
Tinsel and gift ribbons are another risk: If your four-legged companion swallows individual threads, this can lead to an intestinal obstruction. Especially young, playful dogs tend to eat these things.
Ensure the safety of the Christmas tree
- Slopes Balls and decorative parts out of reach of your four-legged friend.
- Wood is less dangerous than plastic or metal.
- Waive Tinsel.
- Make sure your dog can not drink water from the stand.
- Do not let your dog wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree alone.
Conclusion
Christmas poses a certain risk to your dog. When planning the family celebration and decorating the home, consider that certain plants, candles and decorative items can be dangerous for your four-legged friend.
To keep the Christmas tree, Advent wreath and the rest of the decorations as safe as possible, you should rely on natural, harmless materials and use LED candles.
It's best not to leave your dog alone with the Christmas tree and clear away Advent plates, sweet treats and leftover food. This will prevent your furry friend from helping himself and possibly having to go straight to the veterinary clinic.
In connection with Christmas you might like our post 7 tips for a relaxed New Year's Eve with your dog are also interested in. Enjoy reading and implementing our tips.
