Christmas is our favorite time of year and our pups love to celebrate with us. It is important to make sure they safely enjoy the holidays. We have compiled a list of tips for your golden to have a safe and happy holiday!
Although poinsettias are beautiful festive plants, they are poisonous to our pups. So either keep them out of reach inside or just place them outside to avoid any mishaps. Promptly clean up any leaves or petals that fall off.
Metal ornament hooks can be dangerous if eaten by your pup. Instead, loop festive ribbon or twine onto your ornament. It is more secure and worry free! If you have any ornaments on your tree that are sentimental or can be dangerous if ingested, place them higher up on the tree so your fur baby does not mess with them.
Placing any kind of edible decorations on your Christmas tree like candy canes or popcorn garland can be enticing for your goldie. Tinsel is another item that goldens may want to eat and is not good for their digestive system. If your golden is very interested in your tree you might want to skip putting these on your tree this year.
If you have a counter surfer, make sure your food is covered to avoid them enjoying your beautiful Christmas meal. Also just keeping a lid on your food in general will help keep the dog hair out. Your guests will thank you for dog hair free food!
There are certain holiday foods dogs can and cannot eat. Your pup can enjoy some unseasoned ham, cranberries, sweet potatoes, broccoli, green beans, pumpkin and cheese. Your golden should never be given chocolate, gingerbread, onions, garlic, mashed potatoes, alochol, and xylitol. The Daily Paws compiled a list of safe and unsafe foods your dog can eat this holiday season. It is below!
Make sure you have the number to an emergency vet during your regular vet’s non-working hours. If traveling, be sure to have local emergency and non-emergency veterinary contacts. If you need guidance about what to do after your dog ingests something they shouldn’t have, you should call one of the posion control numbers below:
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 (incident fee applies)
Always be aware of where your golden is especially when your guests are frequently coming in and out of the house. Fi collars or GPS tags are great to use with your dog in case they make their way outside and get lost. If your dog is anxious with a lot of visitors or is frightened by loud noises, consider putting them in another room for the duration of the party. You could even trial CBD or talk to your vet about some anti-anxiety medications if you think that may help them.
If possible, it works well to put a leash on your golden and meet your visitors outside before inviting them in your home. This way, your pup can be calmer and more easily controlled. You will be in a larger open space so your dog doesn’t jump on your guests or stomp on their feet. This method works especially well if your guests are bringing over their furry friends and children so they are on more neutral ground.
We hope you enjoy your holiday season with your golden this year!
Reference
Dowdy, S. M. (2022, December 6). Are all christmas foods bad for dogs? Here’s what your pup can and can’t eat. Daily Paws. https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/dog-nutrition/what-can-dogs-eat/christmas-foods-dogs-can-and-can-t-eat