Christmas Can Be A Dangerous Time Of Year For Dogs

If comments and involvement can be used as a barometer for reader interest, I can honestly say that Patch readers love their dogs. From the concern shown for the yellow lab missing since Halloween to the slew of Orange residents who ventured out into the night during a rain storm to help find .

We treat our dogs like our children, involving them in our celebrations, but how many of us are aware of all the dangers that our furry best buddies face during the most wonderful time of the year?

So today, before your company arrives, scan this list of potential hazards, and keep them in mind throughout the holiday season. Believe me, I know that nothing ruins a day like rushing a beloved pet to the emergency animal hospital.

• Hopefully, by now we all know that chocolate, alcohol are toxic to dogs and should be kept far from their reach.

• If you have a live tree, don't use preservatives in the water. The water could be toxic to thirsty dogs (and cats).

• Serial garbage pickers, like my Baron, will stop at nothing to find delicious scraps in the garbage bag. Turkey bones left on a counter where your determined dog can reach them during a family dinner can lodge in his or her throat or block the intestinal tract. Keep the carcass out of their reach and make sure you put the garbage outside in a sealed trash can.

• Traditional holiday plants, such as poinsettias, mistletoe, holly, amaryllis and winter broom can cause intestinal problems to your pet. Keep them out of reach.

• Something that you may never have thought of as a danger is liquid potpourri. If your dog laps up some yummy smelling liquid, he or she could suffer caustic chemical burns to the tongue, gums, mouth and esophagus. These burns may require hospitalization and a feeding tube.

Around the Tree

• Happy dogs with whipping waggy tails and excited jumping habits can be a big problem around Christmas trees. Make sure your tree is secure so your dog doesn't knock it over.

• If the tree does topple and ornaments fall off or break, your dog may be tempted to play with them like a toy and eat the glass — this, of course would be bad. He also could cut his paws on the broken shards of glass.

• Don't put edible ornaments, especially chocolate ornaments on the tree. These surely would attract an unsupervised pet.

• My golden retriever with his big handsome fluffy tail could spell disaster around a Christmas tree. Wire ornament hooks could catch on his tail or ear. If he tries to get it off himself and swallows it, it could get stuck in his throat or intestines.

• If swallowed, tinsel, string, ribbon and shiny bulbs can require surgery, so don't leave your pet alone with these tempting shiny things during the holidays.

Burns

• My friend's puppy has destroyed about four power cords for her laptop in the past year, so imagine what she could do if left alone in a room with access to Christmas tree light cords. Electrocution or a fire could result.

• A dried out Christmas tree and defective or overloaded power cords may cause an entire room or home to go up in flames. Keep your tree well watered, check the water level daily (several times a day if necessary).

• One of the most obvious fire dangers is lit candles. If you use scented candles to add to the ambiance of the holiday season, be vigilant about placing them where your dog's tail cannot knock them over or catch on fire. Do Not Leave Candles Unsupervised if you have pets or children.