| Jingle bells, carols and Nativity scenes are wonderful | | | | will also help to ensure that your dog has plenty of |
| heralds telling the world that Christmas has arrived. | | | | drinking water at all times. Candy canes, chocolate and |
| This wonderful time of year is even more enjoyable | | | | other sweets make tasty Christmas tree ornaments, |
| when a dog joins the family. Rover can get his own | | | | but a curious canine may decide to partake of the |
| stocking and presents and can even go caroling with | | | | bounty and earn a trip to the vet's office. The best |
| you. In the midst of the family fun, however, there is a | | | | way to prevent this is to make sure that all edible |
| need to take extra measures in keeping your furry | | | | ornaments are far enough up the tree to be out of |
| family member safe. | | | | your dog's reach. This same theme of preventing your |
| One very important effort your family needs to make | | | | dog from hurting himself applies to Christmas |
| is to keep your dog safe around Christmas | | | | decorations throughout the whole house. |
| decorations. Christmas trees are a favorite decoration, | | | | It is just as important to make sure that your dog is |
| but they present safety challenges. Some Christmas | | | | safe outdoors as well as indoors. Aside from regular |
| tree dangers include electrical wires, tree water, and | | | | walks, many dogs also love to join the family in |
| candy canes or chocolate on the tree. Many dogs | | | | Christmas caroling or in viewing house light decorations. |
| love to chew, and if they decide to chew on the wires | | | | This means you need to protect them from winter |
| for the tree lights, they could seriously hurt themselves. | | | | weather and car traffic. Warm dog clothes such as |
| Make the wiring as inaccessible to the dog as possible | | | | coats and sweaters will keep them from getting too |
| by hiding in under other decorations or by blocking it | | | | cold, and if you make sure the clothing is bright or |
| with other decorations. It helps if the tree is directly in | | | | reflective, traffic will easily see them, too. Also, boots |
| front of the outlet so that there's less wire length for a | | | | will protect paws from ice and rock salt on the |
| dog to chew. For those that get live trees each year, it | | | | sidewalk and street. Taking these steps will ensure a |
| should be noted that the tree water can make a dog | | | | safe and happy holiday for your dog and the whole |
| very sick if he drinks it. Using a tree skirt to cover the | | | | family. |
| water basin should keep any curious wet noses out. It | | | | |