Keeping your dog safe during the holiday season
By Lauren Rey
The holidays are almost here and if you have a dog, you probably already know that they’ll be drooling over the Thanksgiving turkey and nosing around the presents under the Christmas tree. While the holidays are often called “the most wonderful time of the year” — when it comes to our four-legged friends, this time can also be one of the most dangerous.
From turkey bones to mistletoe, the holidays are full of potential dangers for dogs, but that doesn't mean you have to give up holiday decorations or celebrations. Let’s dive into everything dog parents need to safely celebrate the season with their four-legged friend!
Decking the halls safely
From pumpkin centerpieces to Christmas trees, the holiday season is full of festive decorations. However, some decorations can be holiday hazards for pets. Here’s what pup parents should keep in mind when decking the halls for the holidays.
Toxic holiday plants and flowers
If you’re planning to spruce up your Thanksgiving table with a floral centerpiece or hang holly in your hallway for Christmas, it’s important to keep these items out of your dog’s reach. Some dogs may find plants or flowers tempting to chew or eat, which can lead to accidental poisonings, choking hazards, or intestinal obstructions. Holiday plants that can be hazardous for dogs include:
- Lilies
- Azaleas
- Holly
- Mistletoe
- Yew
- Amaryllis
- Chrysanthemums
- Poinsettias
Christmas tree safety
It’s not every day that a tree is brought into the home and filled with lights and decorations, so it’s only natural that most dogs will get curious and want to investigate. Be sure to secure your tree and decorations well to prevent your dog from knocking them over. Besides the concern of broken glass or chewed branches, things like pine needles, tinsel, and ornaments can all present choking hazards or intestinal obstructions if swallowed. Choose pet-friendly holiday decorations or keep potentially hazardous items out of your dog’s reach.
The water base of your tree can also contain chemicals that are harmful to dogs and should be covered or inaccessible to your dog. If your dog is a little too interested in your Christmas tree, you may want to consider using dog gates or other barriers to dog-proof it.
Candles and scents
Whether you’re burning your favorite gingerbread-scented candle to set the holiday mood or lighting your Menorah for Hanukkah, you’ll want to use caution with candles around dogs. Curious noses and wagging tails can easily get burned or knock candles over, so keep them far out of reach and never leave one lit when unattended.
While flameless candles and diffusers can sometimes be safer, if you’re using essential oils or other scented products, be sure to choose pet-safe varieties. Some essential oils can be toxic for dogs, including common holiday scents like cinnamon, peppermint, and pine.
Holiday presents
Dogs don’t read gift tags or discriminate on what they may find enticing to sniff or chew, especially when it’s easily accessible to them on the floor under the Christmas tree.
Children’s toys can be very appealing to dogs, such as stuffed animals or dolls, which they may mistake for their own toys, presenting choking hazards and intestinal obstructions. Emergency situations may also present themselves if batteries or electronics are chewed or swallowed. Food gifts, especially chocolates, can also be toxic for dogs, even in insignificant amounts.
Scented wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows can all also be appealing to dogs and present a choking hazard or intestinal obstruction if swallowed. Keep presents in a secure location until Christmas day if they contain something potentially hazardous or toxic for your dog.
Safe holiday gifts for dogs
‘Tis the season of giving and many pet parents love to extend this sentiment to their four-legged family members. If you’re planning to buy your dog a holiday gift this year, it’s important to keep safety in mind. While those large holiday-colored rawhides and bones may look tempting, it’s a good idea to speak to your vet first. Many of these items can present choking hazards, gastrointestinal issues, or even lead to blockages in the digestive tract.
Talk to your vet about what kinds of chew toys are safest for your dog and always supervise your four-legged friend when they have chew toys, bones, or rawhides of any kind.
Dangerous holiday foods for dogs
With the holiday season often comes gift baskets of baked goods and chocolates lying around the house, and holiday gatherings with friends and family centered around festive food and drink. And of course, this can all be very tempting to our dogs too, but many holiday foods can be dangerous for them.
Here’s what you need to keep out of reach:
- Chocolate (including cocoa powder or hot cocoa drinks)
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Macadamia nuts
- Yeast dough
- Candies or sweets
- Anything sweetened with xylitol (common in baked goods, gum, candies, and peanut butter)
- Turkey skin or bones
- Onions, garlic, and chives
- Alcohol (or anything containing alcohol, such as holiday punches or rum cakes)
- Gravies or sauces
- Anything that is oily, fatty, salty, sugary, spicy, or heavily seasoned
To keep your four-legged friends from helping themselves to the buffet table, consider using dog gates to block access or securing your pups in a separate room while meals are being served. It’s also important to warn your guests not to feed table scraps and take the trash out to ensure your dog isn’t tempted by the smell of turkey bones or half-eaten pies later. And if your dog does get into any potentially dangerous or toxic items, seek veterinary attention immediately!
What holiday foods can I share with my dog?
As every pet parent knows, sometimes it’s hard to say no to those pleading eyes. Plus, it’s the holidays, and everyone deserves a special treat, right? If you want to share some festive food with your pup during the holidays, stick to dog-safe options and keep portions small. A few bites of boneless, skinless, cooked turkey (without any seasoning or gravy), a few slices of carrots or green beans (with no added salt or seasoning), or a few cubes of plain, cooked sweet potato or pumpkin, are all generally dog-safe options (but always consult your vet, especially if your dog has a chronic illness or is on a special diet).
If you want to put your holiday baking skills to the test and go the extra mile for your pup, try one of these pup-approved, homemade holiday dog treat recipes from 24Petwatch:
- Holiday blackberry dog biscuits
- No-bake nutty pumpkin pup ‘ems
- Red velvet pupcakes
- Apple pup pretzels
- Pet-friendly pumpkin cheesecake
Lost pet prevention during the holidays
Between houseguests, holiday parties, and loud noises that might fuel stress and anxiety in animals, many dogs end up slipping out unnoticed and going missing during the holiday season.
Protect your pup from wandering off during the holidays by ensuring they are always secured in the house, especially during parties or when guests are arriving or leaving — use barriers, gates, or crates if need be. Also, be sure to warn your guests that you have dogs and to take care when opening doors or gates.
In case your dog does manage to slip out, ensure they have current ID tags and a microchip, so you can be notified as soon as they are found. For added support, consider a 24Petwatch Lifetime Protection Membership for access to the largest pet microchip database in North America and lost pet recovery specialists standing by to assist in locating your pup.
Holiday stress
Just as we can become overwhelmed with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, so can our dogs. Between changes in routines, extra people around the house, and loud noises from holiday guests, parties, Christmas carolers, and fireworks — the holidays can be stressful for dogs!
Ease your dog’s holiday stress by ensuring they have a safe, comfortable space to retreat to, away from all the guests and holiday noise. Enrichment aides, like puzzle toys, can also be used to help keep them entertained, and calming aides, like Adaptil, can help them relax. You can also talk to your veterinarian about prescription options if your dog gets overly stressed by sounds or strangers.
When your dog is around any holiday guests, it’s important to pay attention to their body language and look for signs of stress or discomfort. Some dogs can be shy or sensitive around new people or may have triggers based on past experiences with strangers. While some dogs may show more overt signs of discomfort, like shaking, raised hackles, growling, or running away, others may display more subtle signs.
Signs of stress in dogs can include:
- Stiff body posture
- Ears pinned back
- Pacing
- Tucked tail
- Panting
- Lip licking
- Yawning
- Dilated pupils and “whale eyes” (whites of eyes showing)
- Vocalizations (barking, whining, crying, etc.)
If your dog is showing signs of stress around your holiday guests, give them a break and take them to their “safe space” to decompress. It’s also important to always exercise caution when mixing dogs and children who don’t know each other to avoid accidental injuries.
Cold weather safety for dogs
While days spent playing in the snow and evenings in front of the fire are all part of the holiday charm, when it comes to our dogs, there are a few cold weather hazards to look out for.
Depending on your dog’s breed and what type of climate you live in, some pups may need a little extra help staying warm, especially smaller dogs with lighter coats, like Chihuahuas. But the good news is, you can find dog jackets, sweaters, booties, and more pretty much everywhere nowadays. Dogs may also try to seek out heat sources around the home by curling up in front of the fireplace or next to a space heater, or even on your electric blanket — just be sure to use caution with these items to avoid burns.
On walks, you’ll want to look out for potential hazards like antifreeze or salt on streets or sidewalks. Consider using dog booties or wiping your dog’s paws down after walks when it’s been raining or snowing. It’s also a good idea to learn the signs of antifreeze poisoning, like vomiting, lethargy, and disorientation, and seek veterinary care immediately if your dog begins displaying signs.
Final tips on keeping your dog safe throughout the holiday season
Whether it’s by dog-proofing your Christmas tree, securing the buffet table, or priming your houseguests on holiday pet safety, there are lots of ways to keep your dog safe, happy, and stress-free this holiday season.
While taking precautions is important, sometimes accidents still happen — a dropped turkey leg, some spilled hot chocolate, or an overly excited dog that decides to dash down the driveway to greet grandma at her car. To be prepared for emergencies, keep the number and directions to your closest emergency veterinary hospital, pet poison control, and your pet insurance information handy.
For extra peace of mind during the holidays, you can also protect your pup with a Lifetime Protection Membership from 24Petwatch. You’ll have access to veterinary telehealth for any pet health questions that might arise during the holidays, discounts on pet-sitting and dog-walking services if you need to travel, and lost pet recovery specialists standing by to assist should your dog decide to go Christmas caroling on their own. 24Petwatch has reunited over 730,000 lost pets and will be there for yours too!