It’s not long now until the big day now, and excitement here at Canine Partners is growing!

To ensure that humans and dogs alike have a happy holiday during the festive period, our dog welfare team have put together tips to protect your pets from the seasonal dangers that are likely to end with a trip to the vet.

Human treats

Human treats are for humans only – and some of our favourite seasonal snacks are incredibly toxic to dogs. Here is a list of some of the foods and drink to keep far away from your furry companion:

• Chocolate
• Mince pies
• Christmas pudding
• Nuts and berries
• Tea, coffee and alcohol

Also keep chicken or turkey bones, as well as food wrappings (foil, cling film and meat strings) well out of reach of your pooches.

Christmas tree decorations

Our four-legged pals can injure themselves by knocking over the tree, or getting tangled in ribbons, tinsel or stringed ornaments. Fairy lights can also be a danger as dogs may even burn or shock themselves on them. What’s more, popular seasonal plants can be deadly such as poinsettia, holly and mistletoe.

How to prevent incidents

Kara Carver, Dog Welfare Officer, has some easy to follow advice: “We advise all of our puppy parents, partners and fosterers to keep an extra-close eye on their canine partners over the holidays so that everyone can enjoy a safe and merry Christmas.

“It’s particularly crucial that dogs are not left unattended with food, presents or even the Christmas tree as many of these could lead to them injuring themselves or falling ill.

“Be aware that some aspects of the festivities can be frightening to dogs and other animals including the bangs or snaps of Christmas crackers, large singing Santa Clauses and other decorations.

“It’s important not to pressure a pet to go near anything they are frightened of and never force a pet to dress up. If they are happy to wear a costume, make sure garments are flame resistant and don’t restrict movement.”