YOUR WALKING BUDDY

Keep Your Dog Safe During the Holidays

By Trish Stillwater

The holidays are just around the corner so it isn’t too soon to plan a happy and healthy holiday season for you and your dog. Pets sometimes are forgotten in the chaos and clutter that comes with entertaining a houseful of guests and creating trays full of tempting treats. The biggest hazard is when so much is going on in the house that you wonder “Where’s the dog? I haven’t seen him for awhile.” Don’t lose sight of your pet in the midst of celebrating. Follow these suggestions to keep your pet safe and your holidays sane.

Does your dog greet visitors in a calm and submissive manner? If not, don’t wait for guests to arrive — start teaching and practicing good behaviors now. If your dog is overly friendly and jumps on visitors, start teaching the basic commands of “sit” and “stay” at the door. Praise and treat him when he remains calm and submissive at the person’s approach. Keep practicing, and be consistent. Everyone in the family should practice this at the door; enlist a friend to help by acting as a visitor. The dog will learn to associate calm behavior with the reward and being greeted calmly by your guest. Have a treat jar by the door so that the guest can give him a treat reward for greeting calmly. Don’t let your guest get overly excited when greeting your dog; everyone must practice calm energy when they come inside.

Exercise your dog before you have guests over. An exercised dog is happier and less likely to get into trouble.

Set aside a safe, quiet room in which the dog can escape holiday activity and guests.

Because they pant more when they are feeling stressed, dogs will need more water than they usually do. As you do with your guests, keep their bowl full.

Before your guests arrive, consider confining or putting a leash on your dog to prevent escapes from the open door. Make sure your dog is wearing a well-fitted collar and current ID.

It’s best not to have unfamiliar pets visit during the holidays; it adds stress to the rest of the family and other pets in the home. If you do have canine visitors, introduce resident and guest pets properly, on neutral ground. Do not leave newly introduced animals together indoors or in a yard unless actively supervised by at least one experienced adult dog owner.

Do not leave the dog in the kitchen unattended; dogs have been known to pull a whole turkey off the stovetop or table, putting an early end to your holiday dinner. Keep plenty of healthy pet treats handy so your guests can indulge your dog safely. If you want to share holiday flavors with your animals, add a bit of white meat turkey or defatted broth to their bowls. Remind children not to leave food, toys, or decorations where the dog can get to them.

Avoid Holiday Hazards
Christmas decorations are not for animals; keep them high on your tree. Flashing lights and glittering decorations can attract an animal’s attention especially when you are not there.

These holiday hazards can wreak havoc on your dog:
Alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is moderately toxic, and drunk dogs are not cute. One ounce of wine, beer, or spirits can cause alcohol poisoning or coma in a small dog or cat.
Angel hair. This holiday decoration is toxic because it is made from spun glass. It can irritate the skin, cause cuts, and damage the eyes. If ingested it can cause intestinal blockage.
Artificial snow, flocking. These products are possibly poisonous and can cause digestive upset or be a respiratory irritant if inhaled.
Candles. Flame or dripping wax can burn whiskers or hair, and candles are a fire hazard if the pet knocks them over. As always, never leave candles unattended.
Fire/fireplaces. Keep a fire screen in front of the fireplace. Know that ashes, popping wood, and color salts can cause bronchial irritation.
Gift wrapping. Ribbon, trim, polystyrene foam, and foil are dangerous if eaten. Wrap packages away from pets, and keep supplies securely hidden when not in use. Do not give dogs packages to open.
Plants. Traditional plants like Christmas trees, cactus, holly, ivy, mistletoe, and poinsettia may be mildly toxic if ingested. The sap or preservatives used to keep this greenery fresh may also be mildly toxic, causing mouth or stomach irritation. Needles cannot be digested and may puncture the intestines. Excited pets can knock over tall trees, and male dogs may perceive an indoor tree as a place to leave a mark!
Tinsel. This popular decoration can cause intestinal strangulation, obstruction, internal cuts, and choking. Place high on your tree to prevent ingestion.

If there is any possibility that your pet came into contact with a poison, go to your vet immediately, since the onset of symptoms could be delayed. Know where an emergency vet is located in your area.

Trish Stillwater is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and has been training dogs for 12 years. Her expertise is in dog behaviors, and she helps people have the dog they always wanted. For more information or to schedule a behavior consultations, email her at medicinepaws@aol.com.

For more information, contact:
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 1-888-426-4435
National Animal Poison Control 1-800-548-2423