3 Essential Tips For Keeping Dogs Safe During The Holidays

It's never a good time to have to take your dog into an emergency hospital, but the holiday season can seem like the worst possible time to deal with a crisis with your canine companion. Unfortunately, that is a common time for accidents and other problems because routines change, guests arrive, dogs can be overstimulated, and bad-for-dog treats can be abundant. Consider these essential tips for keeping your pets safe during the holidays.

Tip #1: Keep Chocolate in Locked Cabinets

Chocolate may be a sweet treat that delights all your human companions, but canine companions can get sick or even die if they eat chocolate. A single bite of chocolate can be dangerous for a small dog, so you should seek medical attention immediately if you discover that your dog has gotten into a chocolate bar or, even worse, a box of chocolates. Warning signs can take up to 12 hours to reveal themselves, so you don't want to take the risk of waiting for signs like diarrhea, pacing, and shaking. Instead, get help immediately.

Tip #2: Don't Give Your Dog a Bone

Although it can seem ironic since dog treats are often formed in the shape of a bone, you should refrain from giving your dog any of the bones from a Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or Christmas meal. If your dog gets his paws on even a small bone, you may wind up taking them to an animal hospital. Bones are bad for your dog for a variety of reasons, including the fact that they increase a canine companion's risk for obstruction to their digestive tract.

Tip #3: Let Your Guests Know About Dog Safety Rules

Although it can seem uncomfortable to start giving rules to holiday guests as soon as they walk in the door, it is essential that your guests know what the rules are for keeping your dog safe. For example, if your canine companion has a little habit of wanting to run out the front door at any given opportunity, make sure that your guests know how your family navigates getting in and out of the home without putting your dog at risk. Your guest will prefer to know the rules than make a mistake that puts your dog at risk and potentially ruins the holidays for the family.

Finally, keep in mind that holiday celebrations can quickly go from joyful to sorrowful if your dog is wounded or otherwise needs to go to an animal hospital like Columbine Animal Hospital & Emergency Clinic. If that does happen, we provide the best care to keep things as pleasant as possible for both you and your canine companion. Follow these tips to be proactive about keeping your dog as safe and healthy as possible throughout the season.