Happy Paws: Everything for a joyful and safe Christmas with your dog

Christmas – the season of sparkle, coziness, and peaceful family evenings – is just around the corner. The air smells of cinnamon, the tree is glowing, and gifts are piling up. But amidst all the festive joy, there is one extremely important task for every pet owner: ensuring an absolutely safe Christmas for our beloved four-legged friends.

A Christmas with a dog brings its own unique challenges. What looks beautiful and festive to us humans often resembles a sparkling but dangerous adventure playground to our dogs.

In this informative and comprehensive guide, we focus on how you can get your four-legged companion through the holidays safely and stress-free. We reveal hidden dangers and show you great ways to ensure that your dog can also fully enjoy the most wonderful time of the year!

A safe Christmas with a dog is essential, as the holidays often hold unexpected and hidden dangers. Our dogs explore the world with their noses and mouths. A tree suddenly standing in the living room, shiny ribbons on the floor, or the tempting aroma of a festive roast on the table are bound to awaken their urge to explore.

From risky Christmas decorations that can cause internal injuries to toxic Christmas stars and even life-threatening holiday treats – the list of risks is long in December. That is why it is so important for us as pet owners to learn about the dangers in advance. Our goal is to help you create a harmonious celebration where no one ends up needing an emergency vet visit.

The lovingly decorated fir tree is the absolute centerpiece of the festive decorations. But for your dog, it is above all else one thing: a tree that suddenly stands in the middle of its territory! To ensure safety, you must strictly observe the following safety measures:

Secure the tree extremely well! A heavy, solid Christmas tree stand is a must. If you have a large, boisterous dog or a clumsy puppy, you should additionally secure the tree to the wall or ceiling with an inconspicuous cord to prevent it from tipping over.Caution with the tree water: If the tree stands in a stand with water, be sure to cover this water. The water absorbs essential oils and often also resins or fertilizers from the trunk and is toxic to dogs if drunk!

For a Christmas with a dog, completely avoid glass Christmas ornaments! A happy tail wag is enough to shatter the ornaments, leading to life-threatening lacerations on the paws. Classic tinsel is also an absolute taboo. Dogs love to eat the shiny threads, which leads to a highly dangerous, often fatal intestinal obstruction in the stomach.The safe alternative: Instead, use unbreakable, larger ornaments made of wood, fabric, straw, or matte, thick plastic. Always hang delicate decorations and chocolate ornaments only in the uppermost branches, out of reach for the dog.

Christmas is a time of food. But what is a culinary dream for us is often pure poison for our dogs. If your dog is not eating but drinking extremely large amounts, becoming lethargic, or shivering, you should immediately pay close attention. Read here why your dog is suddenly drinking a lot.

Chocolate, Raisins, and Nuts

The colorful Christmas platter on the coffee table is a huge danger. Chocolate contains theobromine, which is highly toxic to dogs. The delicious Christmas stollen is also extremely dangerous due to the many raisins and sultanas (risk of acute kidney failure). Macadamia nuts and speculoos spices (such as nutmeg) also have absolutely no place in a dog's stomach! 

The Festive Roast and Bone Remnants

Please do not give your dog any leftovers from the Christmas goose or duck! Cooked or roasted poultry bones become brittle, splinter extremely easily, and can life-threateningly pierce the dog's esophagus, stomach, and intestines. The fatty, heavily seasoned gravy also immediately leads to painful diarrhea or pancreatitis.

String lights and candlelight are simply part of it. But even here, some caution is required for a Christmas with a dog:

• Real candles: Open flames and a wagging dog tail are a fire hazard. It happens incredibly quickly that the dog brushes a candle on the Advent wreath with its fur while passing by. Instead, opt for high-quality, deceptively real LED candles. This reduces the fire risk to zero.

• String lights: Make sure that string lights and especially the associated power cables are well hidden or taped down on the floor, so that your dog – especially puppies during teething – does not chew on them and suffer a life-threatening electric shock.

• Toxic plants: The popular red poinsettia, Christmas rose, mistletoe branches, and holly are toxic to dogs. Keep them out of reach or opt for artificial alternatives. 

Christmas often means an extraordinary situation. The family gathers, it gets loud, furniture is moved, and everyday life is turned upside down. This hustle and bustle can mean enormous holiday stress for sensitive dogs.

To make sure your dog has a good time too, it is extremely important to recognize signs of stress. Typical signs are excessive panting, pacing restlessly, constant scratching, frequent yawning, or completely withdrawing under furniture.

• Create a retreat: A quiet retreat is essential during the holidays! This place should be cozy, warm, and safe – ideally in a less busy room or a covered dog crate. The dog must not be disturbed by anyone (not even visiting children!).

• Maintain routines: Try to stick to the usual daily routine as much as possible. Fixed walking and feeding times give your dog an important sense of security during this hectic time.

A Christmas with your dog naturally means more than just warding off dangers. It is primarily about enhancing their well-being and having fun together!

Use the free days for extended Christmas walks through the winter forest or the festively lit streets. This not only relieves stress but also burns off the calories from the lavish Christmas meal. Plan special outdoor Christmas games, such as searching for treats in the snow or leaves.

You can also create wonderful traditions at home: How about baking cookies together, where you cut out special, dog-friendly dog biscuits (e.g. made from oats, liver sausage, and carrots) in the shape of bones? Afterwards, you can snuggle up together on the sofa for a cozy Christmas movie.

In summary, a happy and relaxed Christmas with your dog is no big deal at all. It simply requires a little forward-thinking. Make sure your decorations are dog-friendly and shatterproof, create a secure area around the Christmas tree, and keep chocolate and roast meat away from your dog's bowl.

Involve your dog lovingly in the festivities with great walks and special little gifts, without overwhelming them with too much excitement. If you also guarantee them their safe retreat, there is nothing standing in the way of a wonderful celebration together.

The entire HelloBello team wishes you, your family, and of course your four-legged best friend a wonderful, relaxed, and above all safe Christmas!