Christmas Hazards for Dogs You Might Not Know About
The holidays are a wonderful time to spend celebrating with friends, family, and pets. Unfortunately, there are some Christmas-related objects you should keep away from your dog unless you want to spend the holidays at the vet’s office. Check out these Christmas hazards for dogs you might not know about.
Holiday Plants
There are a number of plants people love to decorate with during the holidays, but they’re not so good for dogs. Poinsettias, holly berries, mistletoe, ivy, and pine needles can all cause issues for dogs, including stomach upset and mouth irritation. American mistletoe, in particular, is highly toxic to dogs, so keep it far away!
Christmas Present Wrappings
While your dog isn’t necessarily going to have an allergic reaction if they eat some wrapping paper or even a silica gel packet, these items are still dangerous. If your dog eats enough undigestible objects, they could cause an obstruction, which typically requires surgery to remove; that’s not what most people want to be doing during Christmas.
Potpourri
Potpourri is a big no-no for dogs. If you leave it out in a bowl on your table, it may be too tempting for your pet to avoid. Potpourri contains a variety of plants and other matter—we’ve even seen artificial wasp nests added to the mix. These blends may smell amazing to people, but the oils, chemicals, and materials used in them can cause all kinds of problems for your furry friend, including:
- Pain
- Loss of appetite
- Excessive drooling
- Gagging
- Lethargy
- Difficulty breathing
- Irritated mouth and face
Holiday Foods
There are many Christmas food hazards for dogs that you might not know about. A big one is chocolate, which shows up in a lot of holiday desserts; even tiny amounts of chocolate are highly toxic to dogs. Mince pies, which contain dried fruits in the grape family and ingredients from the onion family, such as garlic, leeks, shallots, and chives, are another food to watch out for.
If you think Christmas day is just too dangerous for your dog, it might be a good idea to take them to a professional dog boarder for the holidays. That way, you can enjoy the day without having to worry whether your pet will get sick as a result.
