Learning About Animal HealthLearning About Animal Health

The holidays are coming up. If you have dogs, it's time to start making plans for their care, comfort and safety. Dogs are particularly susceptible to accidents and injuries during the holidays, especially when precautions aren't taken. To make sure your dogs have a happy and healthy holiday season, here are some special tips you need to follow.

Get Them Microchipped

If your dogs aren't microchipped yet, you need to take care of that before the holidays arrive. This is particularly important if you plan to have a lot of guests coming in and out of your home. You never know when someone is going to leave the door open, or when your dogs are going to get stressed out and take off on their own. If you've had your dogs microchipped, it will be easier to identify them once they're found.

Consider Their Stress Levels

Holiday chaos can stress out even the most calm and collected dogs. Unfortunately, too much stress can make your dogs sick. It can also create situations where your dogs lash out and start nipping at your guests. While you're planning for the holidays, make sure you consider your dogs stress levels. Prepare a safe place for your dogs to retreat to when the noise and activities get to be too much for them. If your dogs are particularly susceptible to stress, plan to check them into a boarding facility during your holiday festivities. That way, they can have a safe place to stay and get pampered while you do your entertaining.

Monitor the Food That's Served

During the holidays, it's important that you monitor all the food that will be served, especially when it comes to your dogs. People love to provide tasty treats to nearby dogs. Unfortunately, not all people food is safe for dogs to consume. In fact, some people food is downright toxic for dogs. If you have dogs, make sure that you protect them from toxic foods such as chocolate and grapes. Here's a list of a few other foods that you need to keep away from your dogs during the holidays.

• Coffee

• Alcoholic beverages

• Artificial Sweeteners

Keep the Ornaments at a Safe Distance

If you're going to have holiday decorations in your home, be sure they're kept at a safe distance from your dogs. Holiday decorations can be extremely dangerous for your dogs, especially things like tinsel and decorative lights. If your dogs eat the tinsel, they can develop serious digestive problems. If your dogs bite into electrical cords for your lights, they can be electrocuted. Keep those types of decorations away from your dogs.

Protect your dogs during the holidays. Utilize the tips provided here to keep them safe and sound while you enjoy the holidays. Contact a AAHA animal hospital for more help.