Vet reveals the one thing dog owners need to do first to the Christmas tree to keep their pooch safe
When it comes to dogs and Christmas trees you might be wondering about the safety hazards of decorations, ingesting plastic or pine needles if the tree is real.
But according to vet Dr Mark Dos Anjos, the first thing you should consider is how you're going to anchor the tree.
In an article for Parade Pets he wrote that the likelihood of the tree falling over depends on the size and temperament of your dog.
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Christmas trees can be a safety hazard when you have dogs. Getty Images/iStockphoto
"My 50-pound (23kg) pit bulls are not as likely to knock a tree over as a large Newfoundland, and even if we had a larger Christmas tree, a wide base, a quiet corner, and a fishing line attached to a hook in the wall behind the tree would be enough to secure it," he said.
Anchoring options Dr Dos Anjos has heard from his clients include fishing line designed for big fish or braided fishing line for very large dogs as these options can't easily be seen but make the tree more stable.
Once that's settled there a few things he wants dog owners to keep in mind.
Light cords need to be secured and hidden under a tree skirt to prevent the dog from playing with the cords, which the vet said they may do if they spot the flashing lights.
"A bad burn in the mouth would be the best outcome, but it is also possible that your dog will be electrocuted," he said before warning that lit candles on a tree are also a no-go when you have a dog.
Dr Dos Anjos also warned against placing edible ornaments on the tree and edible presents under the tree, particularly chocolate which is toxic to dogs. The dogs are likely to smell these and get stuck into them, especially if they knock over the tree or can reach them easily.
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It's also a good idea to put ornaments higher up on the tree for owners with large dogs or dogs with "happy tails".
For those with real trees, the vet wants you to cover the water to prevent dogs drinking it as it could upset the dog's digestive system due to pine oils that may enter the water.
Decorations should be up high so that dogs are less likely to chew them. Getty Images/iStockphoto
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Anything you use to keep pine needles from falling should be checked first for ingredients that could be toxic to dogs if ingested.
Dr Dos Anjos also wants dog owners to collect the needles that drop from the Christmas tree as soon as possible as eating them can irritate a canine's oesophagus.
If your dog does end up eating something from the Christmas tree or showing signs of it call your vet straight away.
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