Holiday Safety Part Two:

The holiday season can be a time of laughter and cheer, but it can also be a time of many distractions, and many potential hazards for your dog. So be sure to follow The Dog Bowl's online guide to making your holiday season pet safe. Don't be the owner who thinks that it could never happen to you, and who foolishly ends up in the vet's emergency room or worse! Make sure this season your holiday season is full of laughter, cheer, and is safe for everyone including your dog.

Dogs are very curious creatures by nature, they love to smell new and exciting things, they love tasting and eating the oddest stuff. So a bit of thought must go into everything you do as a responsible pet owner. In the last article we talked about the importance of making sure your Christmas tree is safe for your pet, here we will focus in on some of the other hazards that may be lurking around your house this holiday season.

Hazard Number One: Presents!

Everyone likes getting presents! They look so good under the Christmas tree. They are an iconic representation of the holiday season for many—a tree stacked with juicy presents. Well guess who else likes them too, that's right your dog!

If at all possible this holiday season try to keep your presents someplace else besides under the tree. If your dog is never going to be alone with the tree, and if the tree is in a room that you can shut off somehow, then you can probably get away with having the presents under the tree. But if your dog is going to be left alone with the tree for any amount of time, don't expect your presents to still be wrapped by the time you get back!

Wrapping paper can cause choking and other intestinal problems, while some of the presents themselves can contain small sharp parts, or chemicals that can cause sickness and create a major health problems for your dog this holiday season. For example, a sweet smelling shampoo or some perfume that you bought for your significant other, the one that smells like flowers or something else tasty. Now, we know enough not to eat that stuff, that it could make us sick. But your dog doesn't. He thinks it is tasty, and left alone he will try to eat whatever it is. And then you and him will most likely be going to the vet to get his stomach pumped. Definitely not what any of us would like doing this holiday season.

Hazard Number Two: People Who Feed Your Dog!

Be careful of people who will try and feed your dog people food. Make sure everyone knows not to feed your dog. Not only does it encourage begging, but also the rich diet of sweets will make your dog sick. Foods high in sugar, chocolate, and various other chemical additives may not be good for your dog and make them sick or worse.

To combat the natural tendency of good natured people wanting to give your happy little dog something to eat have some of your dog's favorite dog treats from the Dog Bowl out in a bowl or a container. Let people feed your dog from that bowl and once that bowl is gone, your dog doesn't get anything else for the rest of the night, so encourage people to treat your dog, but warn them to do so sparingly.

Hazard Number Three: Open Doors!

Nothing can spoil a holiday season good time them having to chase Fido down the street because stupid Uncle Winston accidentally left the door open. Or Aunt Mildew went into your bedroom to get something from her coat, left the door open, and now Fido peed on everyone's coat.

Make sure all of your guests know what doors need to be kept closed, and it might not hurt to print out and post some KEEP CLOSED signs to help people with bad memories not to forget. Consider keeping your friend on a leash or in his dog crate until all of your guests have arrived as well

Here at The Dog Bowl we wish you a safe and happy holiday season! Don't forget to browse The Dog Bowl's online store for all of your holiday season needs!