First, I am sorry I have been M.I.A. for a couple of weeks. With the holidays upon us, things have kicked into high gear for us, as they probably have for you as well. That is, in fact, what inspired today's post. As pet owners, we must be mindful of our furry family members during this busy time of year.
With family and friends coming and going, all sorts of cooking happening and new scents available for dogs to sniff, shiny or sparkly Christmas trees and gifts sitting around and a host of other changes that happen in our daily routines during the holiday season, it is critical to remember the effects that the holidays may have on your canine family members. We discussed appropriate holiday foods for dogs in the Thanksgiving week post, so we will skip that here.
But, it is important to remember a few others things during the holidays. First, that shiny Christmas tree with sparkling lights may be irresistible to dogs (and cats). It is not uncommon for family pets to knock Christmas trees over trying to get a better look at them. If you have a chewer in your home, you may want to be especially mindful of this, because once the tree is on the ground, it is a prime candidate for chewing dogs. Electrical cords can shock a dog when chewed through, and glass ornaments should be viewed as a sure trip to the vet when bitten and/or swallowed.
If you have a real tree, you may experience other problems if Fido knocks down the family Christmas tree. Sap from evergreens can be toxic to dogs, and needles may cause tummy upset, vomiting or diarrhea if eaten.
To prevent access to the Christmas tree, consider putting it in an area that is not readily accessible by your family pets. Other options include putting a fence (usually an exercise pen or something similar) around the tree or putting a baby gate up in the entrance to the room when you are not able to closely supervise your dog.
For those shiny, enticing gifts that are under the tree the dangers are lessened. Generally, wrapping paper and cardboard don't pose too much of a threat if chewed or eaten. However, if your dog eats copious amounts of cardboard, it can clog the intestinal tract and require surgery to resolve. That would have to be some kind of chewer to cause that result though, especially if your dogs are little, but I assume that you would still prefer your dog not chew up the gifts. If you have a chewer, you will want to protect those gifts in the same manner as you protect the tree! Fencing the tree area or setting the gifts up on a table next to the tree might be good options for protecting those gifts.
Finally, be mindful of the effects of added traffic in your home during the holidays. Many dogs will be fine having numerous people in and out of your home, but for others, the added traffic may be a source of stress. You will want to learn to identify the signs that your dog is stressed by the increased traffic in your home. The most common signs are excessive yawning when interacting with your or your guests, disappearing and hiding in a remote corner of the house and sometimes even acting with more aggression (barking or growling) than usual. If you see these signs, you need to act immediately to alleviate your dog's stress.
I generally advise people to crate train their puppies from the very beginning, and this exact scenario is the reason why. If your dog is crate trained, then he recognizes his crate as a safe space, and you can simply crate him during high traffic events in your home. If he is not crate trained though, then to alleviate traffic-related stress, get your dog's favorite toy or treat and guide him to a quiet room of the house where your guests will not go. Generally, your bedroom is a good place for your dog to wait out the event. If he seems put off by the noise of the event, then turning on the television or radio on low volume or a white noise machine (if you have one) should help to alleviate that stress as well.
Just remember, our pets experience the holidays right along with us, but it is not always fun and games for them. For some pets, the holidays are a source of stress that can ultimately impact their health. So, please be mindful of that and keep an eye on those furry family members. If you see signs of distress, please help them. They are counting on you!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment