The 12 Doggie Days of Christmas.
Copied from AB as requested:-
I received this from my Dog Insurance Co. It is long, as I can't find a link, very useful to remind all dog / pet owners.
The 12 Doggie Days of Christmas.
1. Chocolate and sweets
Chocolate contains a substance called Theobromine which is poisonous for dogs. Don’t place chocolate decorations and presents around or under the tree where your dog could sniff them out! It is also important to dispose of any wrappers in a sealed bin too, as if your dog decides to eat them they can cause gut blockages.
2. Christmas dinner or a dog’s dinner?
While it may be tempting to dish up an extra plate of Christmas dinner, many parts of it are dangerous to dogs; onions (found in gravy and stuffing), can cause stomach upsets and severe anaemia, cooked bones can become brittle and splinter causing perforation of the gastric system or an obstruction, and the rich fatty Christmas foods can cause pancreatitis. To avoid any problems this holiday season, dispose of all leftovers appropriately and put leftover carcasses securely in the bin outside, so your dog can’t sneak a midnight snack! Instead, why not treat them to their own doggy Christmas dinner; give them some plain white turkey meat with a side of peas and carrot and swede mash (no added butter, salt or onions). Just remember that our dogs are smaller in comparison to us, so what looks a little to us is actually a lot for your dog!
3. Christmas pudding and mince pies
Unfortunately, our furry friends cannot share a piece of our mince pie or Christmas pudding. Raisins, currants, sultanas and grapes are all toxic to our pets. Keep these festive treats well out of reach to avoid an emergency vet visit this Christmas.
4. Christmas trees
Real Christmas trees drop needles which can be painful if they get stuck in paws. Vacuum around the tree daily and keep your tree watered to help reduce the number of needles shed.
5. Christmas tree decorations
Dogs love to play and Christmas tree decorations can look like hanging toys which are ready to be tugged on and chewed! Baubles (particularly the glass ones) and fairy lights can shatter when chewed and break into shards that could perforate the gut or cause blockages. Tinsel and decorations with strings can also be accidentally ingested and cause problems. It is best to place all decorations high up on the Christmas tree and out of reach from playful pooches.
6. Christmas plants
While it is tempting to fill the house with Christmas plants and flowers, these can cause our pets problems. Poinsettia, mistletoe and ivy are all toxic and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and drooling, whilst lilies can cause convulsions when eaten in large quantities. To keep your dog safe, why not consider fake flowers to decorate the home instead.
7. Create a quiet retreat area
Although Christmas might be a little quieter this year, it will still be very overwhelming for our doggos. There are lots of new objects in the house, furniture may be moved to make way for the tree, routines are altered and the house will be noisier than usual. It is important to make sure our dogs have a quiet area to retreat to with a comfy bed, lots of toys and a pheromone diffuser to help keep them calm.
8. Christmas activities and games
There is no reason why your dog can’t be part of the Christmas fun and games. If you have a young dog, why not play hide and seek with their favourite toy or create an obstacle race using everyday household objects? Older dogs can still be involved in the fun - use the cardboard boxes from your Christmas presents to hide doggy treats in and get your dog to sniff them out around the house, or spend some quality time with them and teach them a new trick!
9. Dog walks
Burn off your Christmas dinner and get some fresh air by taking your four-legged friend for a walk. Remember, it’s likely to be cold and damp, so consider getting them a coat to keep them warm, especially for older arthritic dogs. Avoid pavements and roads that have been salted heavily as this can irritate the skin and your dog may want to lick their paws which can cause salt toxicity. During the winter season it is important to make sure their feet are thoroughly washed once you are home. Although it is cold, remember that your pooch will still need water, so make sure you take plenty out with you to prevent them from lapping up dirty water from puddles!
10. Doggy gifts
Don’t leave your dog off Santa’s present list this year; why not buy them a Christmas themed dog toy, a doggy bowtie that clips to their collar so they can look smart on Christmas day, a plush new bed, or if you want to splash out, an activity tracker to monitor their daily movements.
11. Dogvent calendar
Keep your dog entertained this Christmas by buying them their own advent calendar, or why not make your own and give them a new treat or toy for each day of advent.
12. Homemade dog treats
We all like to bake around Christmas, so why not include your dog by making them a homemade festive dog cookie.
Please also see "Dog Treats Warning" below
I received this from my Dog Insurance Co. It is long, as I can't find a link, very useful to remind all dog / pet owners.
The 12 Doggie Days of Christmas.
1. Chocolate and sweets
Chocolate contains a substance called Theobromine which is poisonous for dogs. Don’t place chocolate decorations and presents around or under the tree where your dog could sniff them out! It is also important to dispose of any wrappers in a sealed bin too, as if your dog decides to eat them they can cause gut blockages.
2. Christmas dinner or a dog’s dinner?
While it may be tempting to dish up an extra plate of Christmas dinner, many parts of it are dangerous to dogs; onions (found in gravy and stuffing), can cause stomach upsets and severe anaemia, cooked bones can become brittle and splinter causing perforation of the gastric system or an obstruction, and the rich fatty Christmas foods can cause pancreatitis. To avoid any problems this holiday season, dispose of all leftovers appropriately and put leftover carcasses securely in the bin outside, so your dog can’t sneak a midnight snack! Instead, why not treat them to their own doggy Christmas dinner; give them some plain white turkey meat with a side of peas and carrot and swede mash (no added butter, salt or onions). Just remember that our dogs are smaller in comparison to us, so what looks a little to us is actually a lot for your dog!
3. Christmas pudding and mince pies
Unfortunately, our furry friends cannot share a piece of our mince pie or Christmas pudding. Raisins, currants, sultanas and grapes are all toxic to our pets. Keep these festive treats well out of reach to avoid an emergency vet visit this Christmas.
4. Christmas trees
Real Christmas trees drop needles which can be painful if they get stuck in paws. Vacuum around the tree daily and keep your tree watered to help reduce the number of needles shed.
5. Christmas tree decorations
Dogs love to play and Christmas tree decorations can look like hanging toys which are ready to be tugged on and chewed! Baubles (particularly the glass ones) and fairy lights can shatter when chewed and break into shards that could perforate the gut or cause blockages. Tinsel and decorations with strings can also be accidentally ingested and cause problems. It is best to place all decorations high up on the Christmas tree and out of reach from playful pooches.
6. Christmas plants
While it is tempting to fill the house with Christmas plants and flowers, these can cause our pets problems. Poinsettia, mistletoe and ivy are all toxic and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and drooling, whilst lilies can cause convulsions when eaten in large quantities. To keep your dog safe, why not consider fake flowers to decorate the home instead.
7. Create a quiet retreat area
Although Christmas might be a little quieter this year, it will still be very overwhelming for our doggos. There are lots of new objects in the house, furniture may be moved to make way for the tree, routines are altered and the house will be noisier than usual. It is important to make sure our dogs have a quiet area to retreat to with a comfy bed, lots of toys and a pheromone diffuser to help keep them calm.
8. Christmas activities and games
There is no reason why your dog can’t be part of the Christmas fun and games. If you have a young dog, why not play hide and seek with their favourite toy or create an obstacle race using everyday household objects? Older dogs can still be involved in the fun - use the cardboard boxes from your Christmas presents to hide doggy treats in and get your dog to sniff them out around the house, or spend some quality time with them and teach them a new trick!
9. Dog walks
Burn off your Christmas dinner and get some fresh air by taking your four-legged friend for a walk. Remember, it’s likely to be cold and damp, so consider getting them a coat to keep them warm, especially for older arthritic dogs. Avoid pavements and roads that have been salted heavily as this can irritate the skin and your dog may want to lick their paws which can cause salt toxicity. During the winter season it is important to make sure their feet are thoroughly washed once you are home. Although it is cold, remember that your pooch will still need water, so make sure you take plenty out with you to prevent them from lapping up dirty water from puddles!
10. Doggy gifts
Don’t leave your dog off Santa’s present list this year; why not buy them a Christmas themed dog toy, a doggy bowtie that clips to their collar so they can look smart on Christmas day, a plush new bed, or if you want to splash out, an activity tracker to monitor their daily movements.
11. Dogvent calendar
Keep your dog entertained this Christmas by buying them their own advent calendar, or why not make your own and give them a new treat or toy for each day of advent.
12. Homemade dog treats
We all like to bake around Christmas, so why not include your dog by making them a homemade festive dog cookie.
Please also see "Dog Treats Warning" below
