8 Easy Ways To Keep Your Dogs Safe During The Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon us. It's that time of year when we gather with family, friends and loved ones to exchange gifts, eat delicious food and watch hours of A Christmas Story. But for some of us, it can also be a time of great stress: we're worried about our dogs!

It's not just the presents under the tree that can be dangerous for our beloved pets—all of the other holiday activities can be risky as well (like the decorations themselves). So what can we do to keep our dogs safe during this time?

 

Below are 8 easy ways to ensure that your dog stays safe during the holidays:

1. Don't leave your dog alone in the car. Even if it's just for a few minutes, it can get really cold in there! Don't leave your dog in the car, whether you're shopping for holiday foods or just running into the store for a quick errand.
2. Don't leave your dog tied up outside in the cold or rain. They need to be able to move around and stay dry! Being exposed to the cold for an extended period of time can result in illness and (depending on the location and temperature) frostbite. Bring your dog inside with you as you celebrate the holidays.
3. Keep any decorations that could be harmful, like tinsel, away from your dog's reach. This might beautify your home, but could also harm your dog. That stuff is deadly for them!
4. Don't leave food out where dogs can get into it; even if they're familiar with your house and yard, they might be tempted by something outside of their normal routine and habits (like a shiny wrapper). Dogs love to eat human food but some can be extremely toxic to them. 
5. Be sure that you've got their identification tags on and up-to-date with your vet's phone number and address in case they get lost while playing outside or exploring new territory.
6. Be careful about where you put lights on the tree—your dog might decide they're toys and try to eat them.
7. Make sure all candles are out before you leave home, so they don't accidentally set anything on fire while you're gone!
8. Don't give them chocolates. Sweets and candy are not good for dogs, as they can cause stomach upset or even death.

 

Let Us Take Care of Your Pet While You're Away

If you need to go away but don't want to leave your pet home alone, let us take care of them at our facility! At Story Road Animal Hospital, we have a wide range of services available for pets and can take care of them while you're away. Book your pet's boarding appointment now before we book up!