5 Puppy Proofing Hacks that Could Save Your Dog’s Life this Holiday Season

Chocolate isn’t the only food that could send your dog to the veterinarian—some sweets, like hard candy (candy canes, come to mind). Not only can these pose a choking hazard to your dog, but they might also contain Xylitol, which is highly toxic to dogs. Other foods on your holiday table could include turkey (never feed your dog turkey bones), Sufganiyot, or even adult drinks. Many of the food items on your holiday table will result in everything from an upset stomach and diarrhea to coma and potentially even death.   Recommendation: to stay safe, ensure your human food is kept well out of your dog’s reach this holiday season.  

Holiday Plants & Your Dog

There are several traditional holiday plants. These include poinsettias, lilies, and holly. Holly can cause vomiting and diarrhea. On the other hand, poinsettias and lilies can be highly toxic to your pet and could result in death. You can find a list of toxic plants in this blog post.   One way to mitigate these risks is to opt for artificial versions of your favourite holiday plants.   The biggest plant you might have is a Christmas tree. If you have a real Christmas tree, you will want to ensure it is regularly watered. Otherwise, your tree will become dry, increasing the chance of becoming a fire hazard. Please keep your dog away from the water you’re feeding the tree, as this could make them very ill. Additionally, please ensure you do not use preservatives in that water as they are highly toxic.   Moreover, with a real Christmas tree comes tree needles on your floor. If your pet eats these needles, they can get caught in your dog’s digestive tract. As a result, this could cause a blockage and an expensive vet bill. To mitigate these Christmas tree risks, I recommend placing a gate around the tree to eliminate or reduce any access your dog would have to the tree.   Finally, with any Christmas tree, you want to ensure that it is well-secured. Otherwise, your tree could become a falling hazard. Whether it’s your tree falling on your dog, or the decorations breaking after your tree falls, this could result in serious injury to your dog.  

Holiday Decorations & Your Dog

In keeping with our discussion of Christmas trees, some decorations you may use for your tree are toxic to pets. Tinsel, for instance, can get caught in your dog’s digestive tract, resulting in a painful experience and an expensive vet visit. Artificial snow is very toxic as well. It is best to avoid using fake snow, but if you must, you should put it in an out-of-reach spot for your dog.   Glass ornaments can get nudged from your Christmas tree by curious noses. I recommend that you either place any glass ornaments on a high spot on your Christmas tree or on an elevated surface that’s not easily accessible by your dog. Traditional Christmas trees also had popcorn garlands. I recommend that you do not put food on your tree as it will be all the more enticing to your pet! Finally, keep the electrical cords from Christmas tree lights or other lights well-contained. This was also covered in more detail in the puppy proofing blog post.   Be diligent with your dog around the lit candles if you celebrate Hanukkah or Chrismukkah and have a menorah. Not only can they get burned, but a tipped-over, lit candle can cause a great deal of damage to your home. Similarly, if you have a fireplace, you want to ensure that there is a gate around it. Embers or sparks from a fireplace can ignite your dog’s fur.  

Holiday Presents & Your Dog

Giving and receiving presents is a cornerstone of the holiday season. Some gifts, such as toys, can be a choking hazard for your pet. Whether a set of Legos or a dreidel, ensure your dog is contained or well-supervised, so they don’t have any unwanted accidents.   You’ll also want to ensure that the batteries are contained or inaccessible to your dog for battery-operated toys and appliances. If your dog chews on a battery, for instance, and it erupts, it can cause a lot of damage to your pet. Finally, wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows can be hazardous to your dog. Most wrapping papers are non-toxic to dogs (except for metallic or sparkly wrapping paper). Even still, it’s always better to err on caution and use plain wrapping paper.   Ribbons and bows in and of themselves are not toxic. They can get caught up in your dog’s digestive tract. If ribbons and bows aren’t avoidable, it’s best to ensure your dog is well-supervised around them.  

Noise & Other Disturbances

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, new houseguests and excited children can be overwhelming to your dog. Provide your dog with a safe space – be it a room or crate – so they can decompress and feel safe. The last thing you want to have is your dog nip at somebody because they feel threatened.   New Year’s Eve is still part of the holiday season, and fireworks will be everywhere. A lot of dogs are afraid of fireworks. Providing your dog with a safe space from the scary loud noises that come with fireworks is a welcome reprieve.  

Conclusion

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Chrismukkah, or anything in between, I hope these tips resonate with you. Leave a comment if you have any other tips or anything I may have missed. In the meantime, I wish you all a happy and safe holiday season!