For all the dogs who've touched our hearts

Make Christmas safe and happy for your dog

Prepare ahead, keep them safe and have a Happy Christmas with your dog!

Joy, family & chocolate!

Bonnie was quiet, too quiet. I hadn’t seen her for a while and was starting to feel suspicious. Excusing myself from our guests, I walked downstairs and spotted her lying quietly among a mess of shredded paper; her back was to me, her head moving up and down in a rhythmic licking motion.

“What do you have Bonnie?” I asked. She responded by gently wagging her tail and I inspected the package between her paws. My heart sank when I realised she was licking a block of dark chocolate!

Christmas is a time for fun, family and friends but it can be filled with hazards for our dogs. If you don’t want to spend it sitting anxiously at the vet, (like we did) there are things you can do to make Christmas safe and fun for your dog.

Dog holding a bar of chocolate near a Christmas tree - with a danger warning sign

Dogs and chocolate... no!

Christmas food hazards

There’s nothing wrong with sharing goodies with our dogs but some Christmas foods are very dangerous. I’ve listed these below but be careful with any food, many dogs have insatiable appetites and will gorge until they're ill. They can also raid bins, steal table scraps and convince unsuspecting guests to feed them foods that are too fatty, filled with sugar, or simply different to their normal diet.

Talk to your guests, keep food out of reach and make sure bins are dog proof.

Chocolate

Especially dark chocolate, can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures, problems with the heart and even death. If your dog eats any chocolate call your vet immediately (although she gave us a scare, Bonnie was just fine!)

Christmas pudding and minced pies

Contain currents, raisins and sultanas which can cause kidney failure (grapes should be avoided too).

Macadamia nuts

Have a toxin which can cause weakness, lethargy, muscle tremors and vomiting.

Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives

(Members of the Allium family), can cause vomiting and diarrhea, but even more concerning are changes in red blood cells that can occur days later. Look out for pale mucous membranes, loss of appetite, lethargy, rapid breathing and rapid heart rate.

Cooked bones

While raw bones are great for most dogs, cooked bones are a definite no no. They can splinter and cause serious internal injuries.

Xylitol

Is a sugar alternative widely used in a range of foods such as baked goods, peanut butter, drink powders, lollies and sauces. It’s highly toxic to dogs causing hypoglycaemia and serious liver damage. Often Xylitol is simply listed as “sugar alcohol” so the safest thing is to avoid giving your dog any sweet food – be especially wary of sweet foods labelled as low in sugar.

Alcohol

At a friend's 21st birthday we were entertained by the cutest baby Rottweiler. I remember laughing as he bumbled around thrusting his head into every glass of beer sitting on the ground. We learned very quickly to keep our drinks on our knees, but I had no idea dogs could like beer so much. While a small amount of alcohol should do no harm, it's safest for your dog to avoid alcohol consumption completely.

If you suspect your dog has eaten or been affected by any of the things above, or they are behaving in an abnormal way, don’t hesitate to call a Veterinarian.

Cute Rottweiller puppy with Christmas ornaments and beer - with Danger warning sign

Keep Christmas drinks out of reach!

Dog friendly Christmas foods

Our dogs are part of our family and it’s nice to share Christmas feast festivities with them, so here are some things you can do:

Make their own Christmas treats. There’s a range of great recipes available online, but double check that all ingredients are pooch worthy. Here’s a recipe I liked the look of: Christmas Cookie Dog Biscuit Recipe

Keep a bowl of small, approved by you, dog treats available for guests who simply must feed your dog. Put a big sign on the bowl – FOR THE DOG – to prevent humans eating them! Do keep an eye on your guests though and make sure they don’t over-feed your oh so persuasive pooch!

Reduce your dog’s morning meal by a small amount to compensate for the extra food and reduce the evening meal if necessary.

Keep a small plate of lean meat and veggies from Christmas lunch for your dog’s special Christmas dinner.

Perils of the Christmas tree

“Oh Christmas tree of Christmas tree how lovely are your branches!” Unless the dog eats, chews or swings on them!

Fence that tree!

Dogs can chew, pull, run into and ingest all parts of the beloved Christmas tree. Even an artificial tree is ripe for munching. The safest thing you can do, especially with young dogs, is to put a fence around the tree and presents. You can buy a wire fence designed especially for dogs, or get creative and make one. Make sure it’s sturdy and can’t easily be knocked over.

If you don’t want to put a fence around the tree, or feel you don’t need to, make sure the tree is stabilised. You can find lots of great tips here: Handy Tips and Hacks for Christmas Trees.

Alternatively, if the tree is small, put it on a table.

Tinsel, ornaments and Christmas lights

Can be tangled, chewed, eaten and tugged on; and please don’t succumb to the temptation of dressing your dog in them. If you would like to dress your dog for Christmas, buy an outfit especially designed for dogs, there are lots of them!

Presents containing food

Remember your dog’s brilliant sense of smell! If you don’t want to put a fence around the tree, consider placing the presents on a nearby table or cupboard.

Paper shredders

Some dogs love to shred paper and tear boxes, if you have one of those dogs you can save a lot of supervision and “Uhh-ing” by placing the presents out of reach – Bonnie I’m looking at you!

Chemicals in Christmas tree water

If you have a real tree avoid using chemicals to keep it fresh, if the dog drinks it they can become very ill. Here’s an article on how to get a long life out of your tree: How Long Do Christmas Trees Last? Follow These Expert Tips to Keep It Fresh for Longer.

Christmas baubles, lights and decorations are NOT toys!

Other hazards

Candles

Don’t leave burning candles unattended and secure the table and cloth they’re on. Also be aware of fragranced candles as many essential oils are toxic to dogs.

Potpourri

Essential oils like Tea tree, Cinnamon, Citrus, Pennyroyal, Peppermint, Pine, Sweet birch, Wintergreen, and Ylang Ylang, are poisonous to dogs. There’s a danger from inhaling, ingesting and skin contact with the potpourri.

Plants

Poinsettias, Lilies, Mistletoe and Holly can all have detrimental effects on dogs if eaten. The beautiful Lily is especially dangerous, potentially causing vomiting, diarrhoea, lack of appetite, stomach pain, depression, difficulty swallowing, kidney damage, kidney failure and multiple organ failure.

Batteries

Especially the tiny ones, can cause acid burning and intestinal blockages if eaten.

Snow globes

Usually contain antifreeze which dogs and cats find appealing due to its sweet taste. Even a small amount of antifreeze can prove fatal – and of course there’s the risk posed by shattered glass.

Crappy dog Christmas stockings

The shelves are alive with brightly coloured stockings aimed at the unsuspecting dog lover. When choosing a gift for your beloved pal, go for good quality, natural and as unprocessed as possible. Most of these ready to buy and inexpensive stockings contain cheap and nasty raw hide chews that I would never choose to give to my dog. Here are two articles on rawhide chews with slightly differing opinions. The choice is ultimately yours.

Rawhide: The Most Dangerous Pet Chew Ever! Are Rawhide Chews Dangerous For Dogs?

Close the door!

If you’re hosting Christmas at home you may have people coming in and out the front door all day. Be proactive and set up baby gates or use dog gates/fences to make sure your dog is safe. Put a sign up – Please Close the Door – to remind your guests. It can also help with unwanted or over enthusiastic greetings!

You could begin to teach your dog to stay inside when the door is opened – although it will take A LOT of training to overcome the excitement and busyness of Christmas Day! You can find a step by step training program with video instruction here: Dog dashes for the door? Here’s what to do

Good practice

Exercise your dog before leaving or before guests arrive.
ALWAYS supervise your dog CAREFULLY with children.
Provide a quiet, private place where the dog can go to be alone.
Use baby gates, crates or fences to keep dogs separated and feeling safe.
Have stuffed food puzzles or chews ready, here are some suggestions: Easy ideas to entertain your dog.
Make sure they have plenty of water.
Make sure they have plenty of shade and shelter.
Leave the TV or radio on while you are out to mask unusual noises in the neighbourhood.
If your dog grabs something they shouldn’t have, DON’T PANIC, YELL OR CHASE THEM. Ask them to give if it’s been taught, otherwise offer to swap for a really tasty treat.
Have the number of your local animal emergency centre close at hand – the fridge is always a good place.
Know what “normal” is for your dog: Normal Vital Signs, Pet Emergencies

And remember if you suspect your dog has eaten or been affected by any of the things above, or they are behaving in an abnormal way, don’t hesitate to call a Veterinarian.