** 12 Holiday Dangers To Avoid ** Most vet emergencies happen on holidays or weekends.
Dogs can’t help hang around people (and food) at a gathering – they are natural scavengers and opportunists.Their big brown eyes often charm guests to sneak food which, multiplied by the usually large number of guests is a lot of extra food for a dog.For a safe and relaxing holiday, take measures to avoid the items on this list.
1) The front door.There is a lot of activity and in the excitement your dog might decide to bolt out the often-opened front door.Consider putting the dog in a crate or safe room with a nice stuffed Kong toy until the activity level has died down and ALL the leftovers have been put away.
2) The Kitchen.Keep your dog out of the kitchen so you don’t trip over him.You’re handling lots of hot dishes that can scald, and counters full of breakable glassware.
3) Raw bread dough made with yeast.This will expand in your dog’s stomach, inhibiting breathing and causing alcohol poisoning.
4) Turkey skin.This way too fatty treat is hard to digest and can cause pancreatitis.
5) Cooked bones.These can get stuck in your dog’s throat, pierce your dog’s throat, stomach or intestine.Cooked bird bones are hollow, easily broken and are quite sharp.
6) Rich gravy and buttery side dishes.These are way too rich for your dog and can cause pancreatitis.
7) Aluminum foil and plastic wrap.Swallowing these can cause intestinal blockage. 8) The garbage can.A dog who is frustrated by all the wonderful smells is more likely to dig through garbage and find several of the items listed above.
9) Chocolate, candy and nuts.Be sure to keep bowls of candy out of reach.Chocolate covered raisins can cause renal failure and Macadamia nuts can cause paralysis. Xylitol, a common ingredient in sugar-free gums is deadly to pets; it can cause liver failure.
10) Decorations.Candles, glass ornaments, and other decorations are lovely, but can be quite dangerous with an exuberant dog.
11) Holiday plants. Pointsettias can cause mouth irritations, mistletoe is poisonous, and flower bouquets often contain harmful blooms. For more information on poisonous plants, go to http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/
12) Guests who mean well.No, one little bit of white meat turkey won’t kill your dog, BUT umpteen rich bits of turkey from several people add up and can cause an emergency bout of pancreatitis (which, if left untreated can cause a multitude of problems including death).Warn ALL guests to forego sharing their food with the dog.Don’t let them spoil the party with an expensive emergency trip to the vet.
CAR SAFETY and YOUR DOG
Car containment: For a dog's safety in a moving motor vehicle some type of containment is best. Body harnesses or doggy seatbelts are excellent for this purpose, and can be purchased commercially. Alternatives are crates, seat hammocks, or dividers. If your dog rides free in the car, be careful he is not able to get into the front of the car and under your feet.
Do not allow your dog to hang halfway out of the windows. He might be injured by jumping or falling out of the car, or have his eye damaged by debris getting blown into his eye. Please do not allow your dog to sit in your lap while you drive, no matter how small the dog. It can be dangerous for both of you: he could get under your feet and cause an accident, or if you brake suddenly, or are rear-ended he will be thrown into the windshield or crushed between you and the airbag.
** NEVER ** let your dog ride in the back of your pickup truck unless he is secured in a crate that is tied down to the bed. Dogs that ride loose, or leashed in the pickup bed are often severely injured (hung, dragged, crushed or run over) or killed if you have to turn, or brake suddenly, or if you are rear-ended. Please don't take a chance with your canine pal's safety.
Safety Tips for Children
To help prevent children from being bitten by dogs, teach the following basic safety tips and review them regularly:
Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.
Do not run from a dog or scream.
Remain motionless (e.g., "be still like a tree") when approached by an unfamiliar dog.
If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., "be still like a log").
Do not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.
Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult.
Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.
Dog Bite Statistics
An estimated 4.7 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs each year. While about 2,500 of these are letter carriers, children ages 5 through 9 are the most common victims of severe dog bites. Dog-bite injuries are a serious problem in our country, but they're a problem we can solve.
Spay/neuter your dog (this often reduces aggressive tendencies).
Never leave infants or young children alone with a dog.
Don’t play aggressive games with your dog (e.g., wrestling).
Properly socialize and train any dog entering your household. Teach the dog submissive behaviors (e.g., rolling over to expose the abdomen and giving up food without growling).
Immediately seek professional advice (e.g., from veterinarians, animal behaviorists or a qualified trainer) if the dog develops aggressive or undesirable behaviors.
In most cases, dog bites are not caused by "bad dogs" but by irresponsible dog owners. Dogs who have not been properly socialized to other persons, who are not supervised or safely confined, who are not sterilized, or who receive little attention and handling are those who often bite humans. Although particular breeds of dogs are often accused of being most likely to bite, other characteristics are better predictors of canine biting behavior. Dogs who have not been spayed or neutered are three times more likely to bite. For this reason, The HSSET and the HSUS suggest that the first step you take to prevent your dog from biting is to have him/her spayed or neutered. Proper socialization, supervision, humane training, and safe confinement are also important components of responsible pet ownership and bite prevention.
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