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Christmas is just around the corner, and it's a special time for friends and family to celebrate. Our dogs are a big part of our families, so it's natural to want to include them in the celebrations, give them gifts and even share our Christmas dinners with them!
Whilst Christmas is a fun time, it's important to consider your dog's safety to ensure they stay happy and healthy over the holidays, so we've pulled together our top tips for keeping your dogs safe this Christmas.
From keeping them safe around the Christmas tree to knowing which Christmas foods are safe for them, these top tips will help prepare your dog for their best Christmas!
Table of contents:
- Dog Christmas tree safety tips
- What Christmas food can dogs eat?
- Plan ahead and stick to your dog’s routine
- Keeping your dog safe around visitors
- Christmas present dog safety tips
1 - Dog Christmas tree safety tips
The Christmas tree is the heart of the home at Christmas time, but it could be a new and exciting thing to play with for your dog!
When it comes to your Christmas tree and its decorations, there are some things to consider to keep your dog safe.
Real Christmas trees
If you love having a real Christmas tree in your home, you may need to take extra precautions for your dog.
Thankfully, most common real Christmas trees, such as pine, fir and spruce, aren't harmful or toxic to dogs, but their needles and oils can cause some issues. Here are the main things to consider;
- Pine needles are sharp and can easily become lodged in your dog's paws, causing irritation and discomfort. Choose a non-drop variety tree to prevent this, and vacuum up any loose needles as soon as they fall.
- Natural trees produce oils that if consumed, whilst aren't toxic, could give your dog an upset stomach. Always supervise them around your tree.
- The water used to keep your tree alive may contain fertilisers and pesticides that can be harmful or toxic to dogs. Keep your dog away from this if you think they'll be tempted to take a drink.
- If you find keeping your dog away from the tree impossible, use a decorative fence to section it off.
It's not just real Christmas trees that can pose issues for your dog; some festive plants and flowers can be hazardous. Holly, ivy, mistletoe and lilies are all toxic to our pets, so avoid buying them, or if you have them, keep them up a height and away from your dog.
Dog-proof your Christmas tree and decorations
There's nothing more beautiful than a freshly decorated Christmas tree, but for some dogs, the temptation to chew and play with the baubles, lights and decorations can be overwhelming. Here are some things you can do to dog-proof your tree;
- If your dog is interested in sniffing, chewing or stealing the decorations, place them higher up the tree out of their reach.
- Avoid using chocolate decorations or candy canes. Chocolate is harmful to dogs, even if consumed in small quantities, and candy canes contain a chemical known as Xylitol, which is extremely toxic. Keep all treats safely stored away from your dog.
- Keep fairy lights out of their reach and remember to turn them off at the mains when you're not at home.
- Unless your dog is completely uninterested in the Christmas tree, only allow them to be around it when they can be supervised to prevent any accidents or incidents from happening.
2 - What Christmas foods can dogs eat?
Most dogs will eat anything and everything, given half the chance! But at Christmas, many delicious foods we eat and love could be fatal if shared with our dogs.
If you want to invite your dog to join in for Christmas dinner, there are some things that you can safely feed them! Remember that any human food, no matter how safe, should be given to your dog in moderation!
Safe foods for your dog at Christmas
- Skinless and boneless white meat is perfectly safe for dogs. You can even add a splash of cranberry sauce, so long as it's been made fresh, is unsweetened and doesn't contain nuts. Avoid giving your dog meat covered in fat, gravy or salt; this may be difficult for them to digest.
- Potatoes are a great treat for your dog! However, they are high in starch which some dogs find difficult to digest, so only feed them to your dog in small portions.
- Vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, green beans, peas, parsnips and swede are all okay for your dog, they should be free from sauces and seasoning, and always feed in moderation to avoid them from getting wind or diarrhoea.
Although your dog will love pigs in blankets, gravy and cheese, avoid giving them fatty or salty foods. Dairy can also be difficult for them to digest and cause an upset stomach.
The safest way to feed your dog at Christmas is by baking them dog-friendly treats, stocking up on dog treats, or treating them to their own doggy Christmas stocking. Or you could even give them their own dog-friendly Christmas lunch!
Foods to avoid giving your dog at Christmas
Here are the foods to avoid feeding your dog this Christmas (no matter how cute they look when they beg!):
Chocolate
Chocolate is toxic to your dogs; even if they've eaten small amounts of it, they could become ill. Chocolate contains theobromine, which can cause severe reactions such as tremors, convulsions, agitation, hyperactivity and even heart problems.
The darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine levels and the more dangerous the chocolate is for your dog. If you think yours has eaten chocolate, take them to see the emergency vet immediately.
Christmas pudding and mince pies
Treats containing grapes, raisins, currants, sultanas or any other dried vine fruits could prove fatal for your dog as they can cause severe kidney failure. Avoid feeding these at all costs.
Onions and garlic - allium plant species
Any plant belonging to the allium family is poisonous to dogs, whether cooked or raw. Onions, shallots, garlic, leeks and chives are all part of this family, so avoid giving these or anything that might contain them to your dog, including onion gravy and stuffing.
Alcohol
Alcohol has a similar effect on dogs as it does its owners but to a much more extreme level; dogs can't metabolise alcohol, and even small amounts consumed from food, cleaning products, or beverages can prove toxic and potentially fatal.
If you think your dog may have had even a few sips of alcohol, contact the Animal Poison Line immediately for advice.
Macadamia and walnuts
Nuts are a Christmas staple often left around the house at Christmas time. Macadamia and walnuts are toxic for dogs, so ensure to leave these out of your dog's reach, as when consumed, they could lead to neurological problems and seizures. Again, seek veterinary advice if you are concerned about your dog.
Bones
Although the allure of a meat carcass will tempt dogs, avoid giving them bones. Bones can cause choking, tongue or mouth injuries, rectal bleeding, damage to the throat or oesophagus or, in some cases, peritonitis, an infection to the abdomen caused by stomach or intestinal punctures.
If you think your dog has eaten something it shouldn't, contact the Animal Poison Line or your vet immediately.
3 - Plan ahead and stick to your dog's routine
Christmas can throw our routines completely upside down, particularly during the days leading up to it and the period between Christmas and New Year's.
Dogs are creatures of habit by nature, so if you want to make Christmas a relaxing and happy time for them, the best thing you can do is stick to their routines.
- Keep their bedtime, food and exercise routine the same or as close as possible to their regular pattern over Christmas. A consistent routine will help your dog to feel more relaxed and secure.
- Create a cosy place for them to retreat when the excitement becomes too much. This could be their crate, bed, or a room they like to relax in. Leave their toys and belongings there to create a positive association.
- If you visit friends and family, don't leave your dog alone too long. Separation from you could cause them to become anxious and destructive. If you will be out for a long time, try to schedule a visit to check up on your dog or enlist a kind friend or neighbour to check on them.
- If your dog is travelling with you on your visits, take something with you that smells familiar, such as their bed, to help them feel secure in their new environment. Take toys or their favourite treats to keep them entertained.
Explore our stress management products to help your dog stay calm and relaxed this Christmas.
4 - Keep your dog safe around visitors
Christmas, by nature, brings lots of visitors, and even if your dog loves people, this can sometimes feel overwhelming. During the build-up, here are some things you can do to prepare your dog for the big day;
Prevent your dog from jumping at visitors
The best way to prepare your dog for this is to practise whenever you come home, and your dog jumps up at you.
- When you arrive home and your dog jumps up, look away and step towards your dog, giving them zero attention. They should drop their paws down to the floor.
- Once they are back on all fours, call them to you and give them lots of praise and attention.
- If you have a visitor and your dog jumps up, ask them to ignore them.
- If their jumping becomes intense, take them away to their quiet, safe space until they can calm down.
Dogs and children
Excited dogs and children can be a difficult mix to control at Christmas. Use your dog's cosy space if everything gets too much for them, or add a baby gate to separate small children and dogs.
If the children are old enough to understand, ask them to be kind to your dog and respect their space. Children should also eat food at the table to prevent dogs from stealing a tasty treat.
5 - Christmas present dog safety tips
Dogs are naturally curious creatures, so if you've placed all your gifts under the tree, they might want to investigate!
If there's a chance that your dog will chew or tear open all of the Christmas presents, then don't leave them under the tree at paw's reach, as this could prove too much temptation!
Whilst edible gifts could contain harmful toxins for your dog, wrapping paper could cause stomach blockages if consumed and may also contain harmful chemicals in its dye that could upset your dog's stomach.
Keep presents out of reach, and if your dog does approach a present that isn't theirs, call them away and reward them for coming to you.
Of course, you may have some presents for your dog to allow them to join the fun! Ensure that these are wrapped in plain, brown, acid-free paper, especially if you plan to let them tear them open.
Keep your dog safe and happy this Christmas with Groomers
So now you know our top tips on keeping your dog safe and happy with Christmas, why not put their safety first with our health and wellbeing collection at Groomers? Stock up on first aid products, calming products and wellbeing essentials for your dog to prepare yourself for the Christmas break.
Or, why not shop our dog fragrance sprays and freshen up your dog's coat this festive season? We recommend our Groomers Festive Ginger Spice Spray if you love festive scents.
