A safe Christmas and New Year with your dog

Food to keep out of reach

Most festive emergencies start at the table or under the tree. Keep these away from your dog:

• Chocolate. The darker it is, the more dangerous, and even a small amount can poison a small dog.
• Grapes, raisins and sultanas, and anything baked with them, like Christmas cake and mince pies.
• Xylitol, a sweetener in sugar-free sweets, chewing gum and some baking.
• Onion, garlic, macadamia nuts and liquorice.
• Cooked bones from ham, turkey or chicken. They can splinter and block or puncture the gut.
• Ham fat, salty or rich leftovers. They can upset the stomach and even cause pancreatitis. The ham netting is dangerous too.
• Ask guests not to slip the dog anything from the table. Their own food is the best Christmas dinner.

Plants and decorations

• Poinsettia, mistletoe, holly, hyacinth, amaryllis, Christmas rose, azalea and yew are poisonous to dogs.
• Baubles, tinsel, ribbons and wrapping paper can block the gut if swallowed, sometimes needing surgery.
• Put candles and the tree where a wagging tail cannot knock them over, and hide cables from young chewers.
• Keep batteries from new gifts out of reach. Swallowed, they can burn the mouth and stomach.

Gifts for the dog

• Take off tape, string and plastic before your dog gets the present.
• What most dogs want is time with you: a long walk, a forest trip or a new trick learned together.
• A food puzzle or a few hidden treats keep a dog happily busy while the house is full.

Guests and a quiet corner

• Give your dog a familiar, quiet place to rest away from the bustle, and let them go there undisturbed.
• Keep walks and meals close to the usual times. Routine is calming.

New Year's Eve and fireworks

Many dogs are frightened by fireworks, and a scared dog can bolt.

• Never take your dog to watch fireworks, even if they seem relaxed about them.
• Close the curtains, put on the TV or some music, and keep the evening as normal as you can.
• Make sure your dog can reach their own hiding place, and let them stay there.
• Keep your dog on a lead on every walk, with a collar and a harness, and a tag with your phone number.
• If your dog's fear is strong, talk to your vet well before New Year's Eve.

If something goes wrong

• If your dog eats something harmful or suddenly falls ill, contact a vet straight away, even if the dog seems fine. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning, for example, can take 4 to 24 hours to appear.
• Before the holidays, check your vet's holiday hours and the nearest emergency vet's contact details.
• If your dog runs off, contact local animal shelters and search-dog volunteers, and let neighbours know.

Sources

• British Veterinary Association (BVA): festive hazards for pets ↗
• Suomen Kennelliitto: Näin teet joulusta ja uudestavuodesta turvallisen koiralle ↗