Don’t let your dog become a Vet Statistic this Christmas!

Dogs are family and quite rightly we want to include them in the Christmas festivities. But the truth is dogs don’t know it’s Christmas!

It’s ironic that our focus tends to be about how much we can spend on our pooch, rather than focussing on planning Christmas around your individual dog.

Britain’s biggest pet retailer, Pets at Home, forecasts that despite the cost-of-living crisis over £1 billion will be spent on our four-legged family members this year. *(Retail Times)

For me Christmas is the season to test how much training and socialisation you’ve invested, but also to consider your dog’s individual characteristics and natural energy levels. Appreciating that dogs experience the festivities differently to us with their heightened senses: supersonic olfaction and hearing.

With a sense of smell estimated over a million times more acute than ours, and hearing four times so, it’s impossible for us to imagine, how dogs internalise the annual cacophony of sounds and smells.

What dogs do know is that something quite stressful is brewing. As we begin to worry about ordering food, the decorations, installing a large tree, moving furniture, shopping, wrapping gifts our stress levels begin to rise.

Interestingly, a study investigating the effect human stress has on dogs was published by Belfast University in 2019. It confirmed that human stress is contagious to our dogs. Not only proving that dogs can smell cortisol (the stress hormone) on their owners’ breath, but the odour made them feel pessimistic!

Appreciating the ‘viral’ qualities of stress in the context that 70% of Britain’s dogs suffering from anxiety, that’s a lot of dogs that might find Christmas at best – overwhelming or at worst – a complete meltdown.

Every dog is an individual and many will be trained around visitors, enjoy travelling to new places, and be happy to settle safely away from the ‘madding crowd’.

Despite our best efforts, dogs being natural born scavengers and opportunists, accidents over the holidays can happen.

The PDSA has suggested back in 2017 that over 11 per cent of pets, namely dogs, would visit an emergency Vets over the holidays. Needless to say, we can assume this percentage will be much higher today in line with the recent surge in dog ownership.

Backed up by one of the UK’s largest emergency practices, Vets Now, who anticipate a 79% increase this Christmas and New Year. The company noted that:

Over a third of cases in 2023 were avoidable with 958 incidents of dogs eating chocolate, especially the dark variety, which contains a higher concentration of the chemical compound Theobromine that causes the deadly reaction in dogs. And 667 cases caused by eating mince pies. Others included eating cooked turkey bones, which splinter causing choking and internal damage.

Christmas decorations were a cause of over a quarter of emergency cases, and costly life-threatening stomach or throat surgeries. Whether that’s accidently lacerating a paw-pad on a smashed glass bauble. Or chewing wrapping paper, Sellotape, even plastic packaging. Dangling strands of Tinsel and fairy lights can resemble a tug toy, sadly leading to cases where dogs have been electrocuted!

The Christmas tree is a key source of accidents including dogs sniffing up dropped pine needles, which can also lead to serious stomach or throat blockages, and a ’mother’ of a veterinary surgery. Similarly, eating cooked turkey bones, which splinter also potentially causing throat blockages, and internal damage.

The British Vet Association recommends keeping up your dog’s normal routine as much as possible. Invest in a long walk before visitors arrive or before travelling. Stock up on appropriate enrichment options to help settle and entertain your pooch in a calm space.

It’s so tempting to offer your dog a Christmas dinner with some leftovers, but I suggest feeding their normal meal, preventing any untimely tummy upsets on Boxing Day.

I suggest choosing paper or fabric decorations, be vigilant about the ‘dangerous’ foods, and create strict boundaries. So, your pooch knows to respect the Christmas tree!

As pretty as they are, I avoid Christmas Poinsettias. They contain a milky sap in the leaves and the stems that can irritate a dog’s mouth causing drooling and vomiting. Unlike raisins or chocolate, their effects are not deadly, but for peace of mind check in with your vet.

Of course, life goes on through Christmas and if you have an older dog, perhaps with an existing condition, I suggest keep an extra eye on them. The concern is that with emergency practices overloaded with calls, in the event they take a down turn, veterinary assistance might be hard to get.

In this instance, I recommend calling Cloud 9 Vets, who offer a national network of cherry picked vets who can help and specialise in at home euthanasia. Simply calling for peace of mind, reassurance, or in a worst-case scenario booking a for a home visit.

Needless to say let’s hope that Santa Paws brings everyone a happy and Vet visit free holiday season!

Top Tips:

· Create boundaries around the Christmas tree, so your dog stays at a safe distance. Choose paper or fabric decorations.

· Provide a safe retreat: Ensure your dog has a quiet, comfortable place away from the noise and guests to retreat to if they feel overwhelmed.

· Maintain routine: As much as possible, stick to your dog’s usual feeding, exercise, and sleeping schedule to reduce stress.

· Be aware of toxic human foods, and keep them at a safe distance from your dog

· Know your vet’s holiday hours: Check your vet’s emergency cover provisions and holiday opening hours in advance. Have the number for the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic handy.

· Call the vet immediately if concerned: If you suspect your dog has eaten something they shouldn’t, contact your vet straight away. Time is crucial for a better prognosis.

Anna Webb – as a Canine Nutrition and Behaviour expert, Anna combines her psychology degree, with study at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) and over 20 years – experience. Host of the award-nominated A DOG’S LIFE podcast, she lives in London, and is owned by Prudence, a Miniature Bull Terrier, Mr Binks, a re-homed English Toy Terrier and Baggy the feral tomcat who moved in. https://annawebb.co.uk