The season of joy and goodwill to all men (and dogs) is nearly upon us. Christmas is a very exciting and busy time for us all, but it's important we don't forget about our four-legged friends in the midst of all the excitement! Here's a few of our top tips to keeping dogs safe and happy this festive season.
- Make sure you keep Christmas presents well out of reach, rather than under the tree where an inquisitive little dog may help himself to an early gift.
- Be particularly careful with where you keep any products containing chocolates, sultanas or raisins as these are very poisonous to dogs.
- Decorations need to be out of reach as well, especially the Christmas tree lights - you never know what a dog may be tempted to chew.
- If you have a real Christmas tree, vacuum up loose needles on a regular basis as they can be painful if stuck in paws.
- Don’t be tempted to treat your dog to a bit of turkey or pudding. Please ensure that all turkey bones are disposed of safely – if eaten by your dog they can cause severe damage to the stomach and intestines. If you want to spoil your dog on Christmas day, treat him to a Bonio, a chew or perhaps a raw carrot as a healthier option.
- You may be hosting or attending plenty of parties over Christmas. Great fun for you, but it could be a bit overwhelming or over-exciting for your dog. If you will be out for a few hours or if you are visiting friends or family for a couple of days, think about whether your dog might need some time out and pop him outside for a relaxing 10 minutes to toilet and get some space. This may also be the case if a lots of people are coming to you.
- The loud bang of Christmas crackers and party poppers can be quite scary for some dogs, so it’s probably best that you put your dog into another room or the garden while you pull them. Be careful about all those small plastic rings, aeroplanes, hair clips etc – they could be chewed and swallowed.