Happy Holidays! As the seasonal festivities ramp up into full gear, many of us are busy cooking, shopping, and decorating. If you have a dog, remember to keep your pet’s health and safety in mind. This can be a dangerous time of year for our canine friends! Read on as a Conyers, GA local vet lists some holiday hazards for dog owners to be aware of.
Food is one of the biggest dangers for our furry friends. Many of those delicious holiday foods are toxic to Man’s Best Friend! Never let your four-legged pal have anything seasoned with garlic, onions, scallions, or chives. You also want to avoid giving your pup chocolate; alcohol; nuts; pitted fruits, especially avocados; caffeine; raw foods; meat on the bone; grapes, currants or raisins; and anything that contains xylitol. If you want to give Fido a special holiday treat, offer him some plain, cooked meat without the skin, bones, or fat.
Fido is adorable when he feels playful! Unfortunately, dogs don’t know what is and isn’t safe to play with. Decorations with small parts or dangling threads can be serious choking hazards. Pine needles, tinsel, ornament hooks, ribbons, lights, and fragile ornaments can also be dangerous. Keep all of these potential hazards well out of your canine buddy’s reach!
If you get a real tree, cover the water bowl, in case your four-legged friend decides to drink from it. The water could contain residues from sap, as well as traces of fertilizer, pesticides, and other chemicals. These things are definitely not safe for your furry pal to ingest!
A fireplace can really give your place a warm, cozy glow. Just be sure to use a protective grate, so your pooch can’t get singed. Be careful with candles and potpourri burners as well: keep them in high, secure spots Fido can’t reach.
Man’s Best Friend is a pretty opportunistic eater, and is definitely not above going through the garbage in the hopes of scoring himself a yummy treat. After a big feast, the food could contain many hazardous items, such as toothpicks, skewers, tin foil, can lids, bones, and plastic wrap. Use a garbage can with a secure lid.
Happy Holidays! Please reach out to us, your local Conyers, GA animal hospital, for all of your canine companion’s veterinary care needs. We are always happy to help!
