Every year in the weeks surrounding Halloween and Christmas, the APCC receives hundreds of calls regarding dogs ingesting foreign bodies, like toys, chocolate, or candy wrappers. Therefore, most of the dangerous holidays for dogs are stacked up at the end of the year. These foreign bodies often have the potential to permanently harm their internal organs and often cause a variety of debilitating sicknesses. This year, make sure your dog stays strong and healthy using these tips.
Keep your dog safe during the holidays
- Always make sure that you feed your dog often enough and on a schedule. When dogs are hungry, they may eat something they normally wouldn’t. Feed your pup their meals at the same time every day, their body will adjust to the timing and they will not be as hungry in between meals.
- Ensure that your dog is getting enough attention. Dogs have been known to eat and chew on things out of boredom and lack of interaction. Take your dog to the park or on a walk to help alleviate their boredom.
- Keep all harmful foreign bodies in places that are not accessible to your dog (high countertops, cabinets, etc). Halloween is the time of year that can make this more difficult. Little chocolates and candies floating around the house should always be kept out of your dogs reach.
In the event that your pup does swallow a foreign object, the following can help ensure that they make a full recovery.
- Be prepared. Have the emergency number for the APCC in your phone so you can contact them immediately.
- Know the phone number and location of the nearest 24-hour animal hospital.
- Keep a list of all human foods that are toxic to dogs. This will help create awareness in your house of what foods to be extra careful with when eating, serving, etc.
Keep your dog safe this year by making yourself aware of the dangers of ingesting foreign bodies. We all want to enjoy our holidays, but how much fun would they really be if we couldn’t dress our pups up in pumpkin costumes and include them in our Christmas cards?