| If your dogs are like mine, the annual appearance | | | | tract. Decorations such as tinsel, ribbons or angel |
| of the Christmas tree brings a lot of curiosity and | | | | hair can become tangled up in the digestive |
| exploration. Aside from the possible reaction of | | | | system and cause blockages. |
| canine kids who think: "Cool! Mom gave us indoor | | | | One of the biggest risks with dogs and Christmas |
| plumbing!" - and the subsequent irritation of human | | | | trees is that they may knock the entire tree |
| family members when they give it a try - | | | | over during an exuberant race through the house |
| Christmas trees pose a number of hazards for | | | | or an ill-timed wag of a tail. They can face a |
| dogs and other pets. | | | | variety of injuries if the tree lands on top of |
| If you have a live tree, be sure to cover or | | | | them. Make sure that your tree is securely |
| otherwise protect the water in the stand. Many | | | | anchored in its stand, and if possible, secure the |
| trees may leach fertilizer into the water, and the | | | | top of the tree to a wall or ceiling (fishing line |
| stagnant water alone is a breeding ground for | | | | works well for this). |
| bacteria and algae, so it is not safe for pets to | | | | So, how do you protect your dog and your tree |
| drink. Dogs may also be inclined to sample the | | | | from these many hazards? The easiest solution is |
| needles from the tree, which are very sharp and | | | | to keep your dogs away from the tree when |
| can cause perforations in the intestinal tract. | | | | you are not there to supervise. If your tree is in |
| Snacking on artificial tree parts is not | | | | a room that you can block off, do so when you |
| recommended either, due to the risk of intestinal | | | | are away. I have found that placing an X-pen |
| obstruction. | | | | around the tree prevents anyone from coming |
| Some dogs, particularly puppies (but older dogs as | | | | too close or exploring where they shouldn't. Gifts |
| well), have a tendency to chew on electric cords | | | | can also be placed inside the pen, preventing |
| and lights. If the lights are plugged in, chewing | | | | curious noses, paws and mouths from opening |
| through the cord can cause electrical burns or | | | | them too early or worse, destroying them. If you |
| worse. Dogs have also been known to munch on | | | | have a smaller tree, you can place it on a table |
| the glass bulbs themselves (I caught one of my | | | | out of reach of smaller canines. |
| own dogs at this while putting up the tree this | | | | If your dog does stick his nose, paws or mouth |
| year), which can also cause gastrointestinal | | | | into places that he shouldn't, contact your |
| bleeding. | | | | veterinarian or local emergency clinic as soon as |
| Breakable ornaments and ornament hooks pose | | | | possible and follow their instructions. If he has |
| additional risks. If dogs knock them off of the | | | | ingested anything, you can also contact a local |
| tree and they break, they can easily cut paws on | | | | poison control center or a national center such as |
| the glass pieces or find themselves with a sharp | | | | the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. But, |
| hook in a foot. If ingested, the glass and sharp | | | | since "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of |
| metal can cause perforations in stomach or | | | | cure", the best advice is to take a few simple |
| intestines, and you may face emergency surgery | | | | steps to protect your furry kids from getting into |
| if pieces become embedded in the gastrointestinal | | | | Christmas tree trouble in the first place. |