Enjoy a happy christmas with your dog

Christmas is normally a time we all look forward to, a time with friends and families, lots of eating, drinking and being merry and maybe some extra days off work. However, for our four legged friends the festive period is fraught with dangers, most of which are unknown to most dog owners.

Many of our festive treats and decorations can be extremely dangerous to our dogs. Please bear in mind some of the following over the festive period so you are all able to enjoy the festivities.

• It is important to remember that older dogs (or dogs with thin fur coats) wear coats when the weather is cold or wet. All dogs will need a warm, dry place to rest during the winter. If you have a dog walker or someone who comes in to help with your dog it may be worth leaving the heating on low for when they return and ensure that their dog walker is drying them off well before they are left.
• If you have an open fire ensure you have a guard up and be aware of hot radiators. Dogs may try to get warm or dry but may end up getting burnt.
• There is a whole list of seasonal items which are dangerous to your dog if eaten:
• chocolate
• grapes
• raisins - watch out for mince pies, christmas cake and christmas pudding
• cooked turkey bones may become lodged in your dogs throat or perforate the intestinal tract.
• xylitol, a sweetener found in many sugar free sweets, may also be dangerous
• onions may cause anaemia so it is best not to feed them to your dog in any form. 
• If you feed your dog left overs that they are not used to, it may upset their stomach and never give your dog alcohol to drink.
• Most christmas trees are a low toxicity but may cause a mild gastrointestinal upset if chewed. Pine needles can get stuck in paws and can cause irritation. Ideally vacuum daily and keep the tree well watered to reduce the number of fallen needles.
• Dogs and cats find antifreeze irresistible to drink as it is sweet tasting. However, it is fatal to both dogs and cats. Ensure if you spill any it is cleared up fully as even a small amount can kill and do not let your dog drink out of puddles on the roads.
• There are often more visitors around at christmas time but it is important that the front door is not left open incase your dog escapes and get lost or run over
• If your dog is wary around new people, when you have visitors around keep an eye on them and give them a safe place to escape to if they want to get away from it all. Keep an eye on your guests as well, especially children, they should not provoke the dog and should be respectful. Scared dogs may bite if provoked, intentionally or not.
• Try to keep your dogs routine or he may become unsettled or stressed. Ensure they are fed and walked at the same time and set aside plenty of time for attention and play. Make sure they are not forgotten in all the excitement!
• Poinsettias and Amaryllis are popular plants at christmas. However dogs find these plants irresistible to eat. They should be kept out of reach of your dog as they are poisonous and can cause mouth or stomach irritation even from just eating a small amount of the plant. Mistletoe can also be dangerous; the berries, in particular, can be even more dangerous than poinsettias.
• Supervise play with any new toys (either the dogs or the children's) in case they break and are swallowed. Make sure any toys your dog plays with are designed for pet use.

Pooches Galore wishes you all a healthy, happy Christmas and a prosperous new year!