Christmas dangers for dogs: what to keep out of reach

December is a busy month at the vet. Most cases come from the same short list of foods and decorations. Know the list, keep those things out of reach, and you have removed most of the risk.

Foods that are toxic to dogs

• Chocolate. It contains theobromine, which dogs break down very slowly. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous: dark and baking chocolate are far worse than milk chocolate. Watch for chocolate tree decorations, advent calendars and gifts under the tree. Signs include vomiting, restlessness, a racing heart and tremors.
• Xylitol. A sweetener in sugar-free gum, sweets, some peanut butters and baked goods. It can make blood sugar drop dangerously within 10 to 60 minutes and can damage the liver. Always read the label.
• Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants. They can cause sudden kidney failure, and there is no known safe amount. Think of fruit cake, Christmas pudding, mince pies, stollen and panettone.
• Onion, garlic, leeks and chives. They damage red blood cells, and the signs can appear only days later. They hide in stuffing, gravy and many leftovers.
• Macadamia nuts. They cause weakness, tremors and fever.
• Alcohol and raw bread dough. Both are much more dangerous for a dog than for a person.
• Caffeine and human medicines. Coffee, energy drinks and painkillers are dangerous for dogs. Keep guests' bags and medicines out of reach.

Foods that are not toxic but still hurt

Cooked bones from the roast splinter and can block or tear the gut. Fatty leftovers such as skin, fat trimmings and rich sauces can trigger pancreatitis, a painful inflammation that often needs a stay at the vet. Put leftovers straight into a closed bin.

Decorations

• Tinsel, ribbon and string. Swallowed long strands can bunch up the intestine. This is an emergency.
• Glass baubles. Hang breakable ones higher than your dog can reach, and keep the lowest branches for soft decorations or nothing.
• Cables and fairy lights. A teething puppy and a live cable are a bad mix. Run cables along walls or cover them.
• Batteries. Button batteries in toys and remote controls can burn through tissue within hours when swallowed.
• Tree water. It can contain fertiliser or preservatives. Cover the stand.

Plants

Holly and mistletoe berries are toxic and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Poinsettia is much less dangerous than its reputation, it usually only irritates the mouth and stomach, but it is still best out of reach.

Visitors and noise

Guests, a full house and a changed routine are stressful for many dogs. Give yours a quiet room with its bed, water and a chew, and let it choose when to join. Ask guests not to share food from the table, and tell them which foods are dangerous.

A puppy as a Christmas present

A puppy is not a surprise gift. The first weeks need calm, routine and someone at home, and the holidays bring the opposite. If the whole family has chosen a dog together, a better plan is to give a lead, a bed or a book as the present, and bring the puppy home in January, when life is quiet again.

If your dog ate something dangerous

1. Call your vet or the emergency vet at once, even if your dog seems fine. Many poisonings show signs only hours later.
2. Say what was eaten, roughly how much, and when. Keep the packaging.
3. Do not try to make your dog vomit at home unless the vet tells you to.

Save the number of your nearest emergency vet in your phone now, before the holidays.