Taking care of your dog at Christmas

​The Christmas holidays are a very exciting time, especially with young children around; but it is all too easy to take your eye off what your dog is up to this time of year.

So if you are a dog owner and you would rather spend your time with family and friends, and not at your veterinary emergency clinic, then here is our guide to keeping your pooch safe this Christmas.

FOOD

We humans just love to overindulge in stacks of rich, fatty foods at this time of year but these same foods can seriously upset your dog’s stomach and can even be toxic. Just because it’s good for us doesn’t mean it’s good for your dog so here are a few dos and don’ts when it comes to grub!

Do

• There are some good things they can have and not feel left out; cooked turkey meat and a few vegetables they will love but hold off on the gravy as it is stacked full of salt. 
• You can buy proper dog chocolates and treats but watch the calories as you don’t want a ‘chubster’ by New Year. 
• Rawhide chews come in all sorts of shapes and sizes so wrap one up and give it to your dog on Christmas Day and keep it amused for ages.
  

The trick is to be sensible and if you don’t know if it’s good for your dog or not then don’t give it. And remember, everything in moderation!

Don't

• Onions: in quantity these can cause anaemia, as can large amounts of garlic.
• Grapes and raisins: fairly innocuous you might think but these are now known to be toxic and as tolerance will vary dramatically from dog to dog, these are best avoided full stop.
• Chocolate: how can something so wonderful be toxic? Unfortunately for dogs, that is the case and can be fatal - with puppies and older dogs being most at risk. Dogs can have a sweet tooth too so they won’t realise it’s bad for them until it’s too late, so keep that lovely chocolate well out of reach.
• Cooked bones: As soon as you cook a bone it becomes brittle and can splinter in the dogs gut so put them in the recycling bin and not in your pet. Also dogs are natural scavengers, so if you reckon that turkey carcass is safe from your dog's reach while you answer the door, then think again; turn your back for a second and it will be dog meat!

If you think you dog has ingested something it shouldn’t and is showing signs that all is not well, consult your vet immediately.

DECORATIONS

Dogs are highly curious by nature so all those additions to your decor are going to be high on the list of things to check out when you’re not looking.

• Keep those electrical cords tucked away and make sure those tree and hanging decorations are out of reach.
• Anything ‘dangling’ is going to be fair game, especially for puppies and young dogs so never leave them unattended.
• This may seem obvious but a lit candle can fascinate and the consequences can be disastrous. 
• Not so obvious is that if you have a real tree this year then don’t let your dog drink the water as it can make them very sick.
• Those colourful plants that crop up in their multitudes at this time of year may look great but dog owners need to be aware that many of these are poisonous and range in their toxicity from mild to severe.

PARTIES

All the parties and family ‘get togethers’ mean lots of commotion which might mean fun for you but not for your dog.

The noise and large numbers of people can be stressful and disorientating for them, especially if they are highly strung or of a nervous disposition.

They are best off in a crate or quiet room right out of the way throughout the frivolities and can come out again when it’s all over.

The worst that can happen then is they get a bit bored and have to do a bit of extra sleeping; or even better make sure they have a really good walk before the fun starts and then they will be too tired to care.

So many dogs get loose and run off at this time off year, usually as a result of someone not shutting a door, and some never find their way home again or are killed on the roads.

​So whatever you have planned this year, please keep an eye on your faithful friend over the holiday season and keep them safe.