Most everyone is excited for a bit of Christmas cheer to help brighten up this difficult year. One thing dog owners should be mindful of, is how to protect your pet from the harmful aspects of Christmas decorations.

Five Christmas Dog Safety Tips

Trees

If you have a live tree at Christmas be sure not to let your dog ingest the needles that fall from the tree as they are mildly toxic and could even possibly puncture the digestive tract or cause an obstruction. Fake trees could also have small plastic or aluminium bits that could break off and cause mouth irritation or intestinal blockage.

Ornaments

Glass ornaments could be a hazard if they were to fall or be eaten which is dangerous if stepped on or could cause blockages in the digestive tract. Many ornaments are also toxic due to the chemicals used in manufacturing, so consider non-toxic, natural decorations. Edible decorations, especially chocolate ones, are quite dangerous and could cause a pet to knock the tree over trying to get to them; the chocolate of course poses its own dangers.

Water

The water used for live Christmas trees, and the added preservatives could cause poisoning for your dog, so ensure the watering dish for the tree is covered.

Tinsel

If your dog were to get a hold of tinsel, this could cause major issues including diarrhoea, vomiting, blocked intestines and in extreme cases, surgery.

Lights

Lights can get hot and possibly burn your pet, cause electric shock or burns if chewed and in rare cases cause pulmonary edema, from wire chewing, which could be lethal.

It is important when planning your decorations, to try to keep in mind the safety of your dog or other pets. No one wants an emergency trip to the vet, and especially not during the holidays.