Have a Jolly Doggy Christmas

Well I’ve already heard Wham! and Last Christmas for the 3rd time today so it must be that time of year again already. This is a season where we are often under a little more stress than normal, both mentally and physically. Routines quickly go out of the window with parties and the need to socialise more. Equally we are presented with endless food, treats and beverages – these factors quickly take their toll on us physically and mentally, all of which can impact our dogs too!

So with that in mind, here are a few tips to help you and your dog get through the festive season with minimal mishaps.

Food

There is often so much food around this time of year, it’s easy for us to overindulge and our dogs to! Our companions get more titbits and often even a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.

If your dog has a sensitive tummy, it may be best not to change their diet up and perhaps consider advising guests against feeding your dog (people can be the hardest to train!)

If you do decide to give your dog titbits or a Christmas dinner, remember to reduce their remaining food intake to help avoid weight gain. Remember human foods are higher in fat and sugar and therefore will have an even more pronounced effect on our dogs.

Make sure the food you are giving is “dog safe”, avoid foods that are toxic:

· No cooked bones!

· Mince pies and Christmas pudding, fruit cake, raisins, currents and grapes are toxic to dogs, please do not feed or leave around.

· Chocolate, again toxic and the higher the coco content, the worse it is. It is also often high in sugar too. Keep the chocolate to the humans!

· Stuffing – a lot of stuffing contains onion which can also be harmful to dogs, this is best to avoid.

· Cheese – Depending on the dog cheese in small quantities can be ok but large quantities can cause irritation to their stomachs. Blue cheese can be especially dangerous because of the fungus contained within it.

· Alcohol – please dog not give your dogs alcohol, ever! Dogs cannot metabolise alcohol.

If you feel you might have overindulged a bit during a meal, a gentle walk may be needed to help with digestion. Why not take your four legged friend for a walk with you, no running but a gentle on lead walk can be good and help you both prepare for an a much-needed afternoon nap!

I advise all my clients, for safety’s sake make sure you have your vets number to hand over the festive season and be aware of their opening times (including out of hours contact details) – better to be prepared in case of an emergency. There is also the Animal poison line (APL) www.animalpoisonline.co.uk on 01202 509 000. They are available around the clock with trained vets, vet nurses and toxicologists on hand for advice should it be needed.

Socialising

Again, this can be a tricky one. We are more than likely to have more visitors around this time of year than normal. These can often include children, who the dog doesn’t perhaps often see – consider how they may react to this.

Equally the environment can be significantly alien to the pet with loud music and dare I say it the occasional visitor a little worse for wear – this can all be hard for your dog to deal with. Not wishing to be a kill joy, here are some tips to help avoid any mishaps.

· Make sure your dog has a safe place away from everyone. This can be another room or put their bed in a quiet corner so they can rest.

· Let children know how to behave around the dog.

· Let the dog eat in peace.

· If your dog is bouncy and you are worried about them jumping up at visitors, don’t be worried about putting them on the lead in the house until they calm down.

· Even if your dog is happy about guests make sure your guests are well trained too.

· Don’t leave harmful food within reach of the dog.

· Intoxicated people can be annoying and behave strangely to us humans, imagine how confusing this can be to a dog. If things get a little hectic or celebrations extend into the night consider popping the dog away in another room.

· If in doubt remove your pet from the situation, perhaps leave your dog at home or keep them somewhere they are safe and comfortable

Obviously Christmas is a opportunity to relax and celebrate but be aware it can be a tricky time for both humans and dogs alike. In closing I would like to wish all my two legged and four legged friends a safe and very Merry Christmas!