How Do I Decorate For The Holidays With A Dog? 

Pet Safety Articles

Santa Dog

One of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit, is to decorate for the occasion. As beautiful as the festive atmosphere may be, it’s also important to remember that dogs might not get along with these changes. Our treasured holiday décor many are not the safest for our pups. Before we decide to dig up that old bin of holiday decorations, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. 

 

What should I look out for? 

Does your dog like to eat things found on the floor? Do they chew on things like extension cords or cables? How many times have they ripped up items that are not toys? For our dogs, bright new things are the holy grail of a fun time. With so many shiny lights, moving objects, and fuzzy new décor everywhere, can you blame them? Understand that have a dog is just like having a kid. Be smart and prepare for their wellbeing.  

 

What holiday items should I pay extra attention to? 

Holiday Trees 

 Your holiday tree is the center piece of all your home. Unfortunately, they’re also not entirely dog friendly. If you think your holiday tree smells great, just imagine how they smell to your pups. Your dog’s nose smells 40x greater than ours. Making that holiday tree the biggest temptation your dog must face all year. If you haven’t already, consider buying an artificial tree instead of using the real thing. This will help in several ways.  

  • They Won’t Mark Their Territory – It should help prevent your dog from marking their territory on all your precious, hanging memories. Dogs love to make their scent the strongest in the room.  
  • They Won’t Knock It Over – Artificial trees tend to come with sturdier stands than your typical screw–in tree stand. This makes it harder for your pups to get rowdy and knock it over.  
  • They Can’t Eat The Pine Needles – Ingesting a large amount of pine needles is not good for your dog’s health. By opting into an artificial tree, you eliminate that danger entirely.  

Holiday Ornaments 

Although artificial trees are much safer, all forms of holiday trees come with risk. Fragile ornaments can be easily knocked loose and break or be seen as a shiny new chew toy. Shattered plastic or glass can get into your dog’s paw pads causing a very painful emergency trip to the vet. On a much worse scale, they can burst in your pup’s jaws resulting in much more fatal problems. Place more delicate ornaments higher on the tree and avoid any ornaments with metal hooks. Avoid using tinsel or placing any kind of food such as popcorn, cranberries, or candy canes in sight of your pup.   

 

Holiday Lights  

Beautifully colored lights are festive and fun ways to brighten up your home each winter. However, it is because of this beauty that they can be very dangerous for your dogs. Pets have a tendency to chew on wires and burn themselves on hot bulbs. During the holiday season, many pet stores sell pet-proof extension cords or chewing deterrent sprays on exposed cables. If too hot, holiday bulbs can burn your pet’s mouth or burst into tiny shards of glass. Generally, try to organize the lights in a manner that won’t have much contact with the ground.  

  

Holiday Plants 

There are many kinds of plants and flowers that people use to spruce up the home with during the holidays. Festive botanical decor like mistletoe and holly, and extremely toxic for dogs. The traditional holiday Poinsettias are a bit less dangerous but are more likely to be eaten based on smell. These flowers cause serious upset stomachs and in large amounts, could prove much worse. As a replacement, consider buying fake plants or deciding on silk plants for decoration. 

  

Other Holiday Décor 

Many of us like to create our own winter wonderland indoors. As tempting as that may be, using items like angel hair or artificial snow to decorate can be fatal to your dogs. This type of fluffy décor can be very appealing to a pup. If consumed, it can cause intestinal blockage and become toxic if consumed. Ribbons, bows, and yarn should be placed thoughtfully around the house. If eaten, like other items, they can cause irritation and digestive issues.  

 

Being thoughtful when decorating your home is easy when you have a guide to get you there. At Pet Butler, we want you and your pups to enjoy the holiday season for years to come. Don’t waste your time together picking your pets poop, let Pet Butler do it for you. We scoop poop so you don’t have to. Schedule your scooping service now!  

What Are Some Holiday Crafts You Can Make With Your Pet?

Dog Activities Articles - Page 2

Girl With Ept Doing Holiday Stuff

The holidays are here! Now is the time to spread cheer, give back, and make as many memories as possible. For your pets, the holidays are exciting and limited. It’s no secret your pets won’t live forever. These moments are special and should be spent commemorating your time as much as possible. That means it’s time to pull out the construction paper, glitter glue, and non-toxic paint and start making memories. Here are a few ideas to help freeze time and keep your pets a part of the celebration for years to come.    

 

Holiday Pet Craft Ideas 

Make A Holiday Ornament 

Ornaments are a great addition to any holiday tree that provides memories every year that you use them. There are many crafty ways to create this memory to hang on your tree. However, we will cover our top two.   

The Paw Print Ornament – This is a safe and easy way to freeze your pet’s paw in time. All it takes is flour, water, and a pinch of salt. No exact measurements needed. Mix it all together into a dough and flatten to about ¼ inch thick. Press your pet’s paw into the mixture. Poke a small how at the top and string a ribbon through the hole. Let the dough dry for up to an hour. Then, Voila!  Your ornament is ready for any further decorating you deem necessary.   

The Collar Ornament – Your pets grow out of sweaters, toys, beds, and especially their collars. So, what do you do with them after? Why not repurpose old gear into holiday memories. You can take an old collar and create a holiday tree memory. This even works with old sweaters or toys. If you take a clear plastic ornament and place strips of these items inside, with a photo of your pet to top it off, you have the perfect holiday decoration.   

   

 

Make a Holiday Photo Frame  

The Season Wall Photo – Somethings you decorate with all year and some only seasonally. Why shouldn’t that go with the photos you hang on your wall? Create a holiday photo frame with your pet’s paw in the shape of a holiday tree! This one is messy, but worth every memory. Use a non-toxic paint to dip your pet’s paw into and stamp their paw in the form that you like. To top it off, take a photo of you and your pet while doing it.   

Make A Seasonal Pet Blanket 

The Holiday Pet Blanket – This one might sound out there, but it is the perfect way to get your pets excited about their seasonal items. You can use a mix of store-bought fabric, old blankets, old pet clothing, or all the above! Using the tying up the corners method, you can create a happy memory for your pet to use every holiday and to keep every holiday after!   

  

At Pet Butler, we understand what it means to want to give your pet the best and most meaningful memories. That is why Pet Butler is dedicated to providing clean yards for you and your pet to make as many memories as possible. If you want to learn more about the services we provide, follow the link here!   

 

 

What To Do When My Dog Eats Chocolate

Pet Safety Articles

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An inevitable truth: with the holidays comes chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. And this means that we must keep an eye on our sweets to keep our pets safe. 

Another truth is that chocolate is toxic to dogs and may hurt our canine friends; however, the toxicity level depends on many factors, including how much chocolate a dog has consumed, the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. As dog parents, it’s important to understand the potentially harmful situationn that can arise when our pets indulge in our holiday treats. 

So, what do we do if our pet consumes chocolate, and how do we recognize the signs of possible chocolate poisoning in dogs? 

  

How do I prevent my dog from indulging in chocolate?

First, chocolate candy and baking items should be handled like toxic cleaning supplies. Keep them sealed and out of reach.

When storing chocolate items, think about the dog’s size, behaviors and ability to jump and climb. If the dog can access the counter, this isn’t a good hiding place. When throwing chocolate goods in the kitchen garbage or outdoor trash cans, be sure that the lids are tightly shut. If you have an extra curious pup, you might consider using child-proofing hinges or bungee chords to ensure your furry friend keeps their nose out of the trash.

Around holidays such as Halloween and Valentine’s Day, pay a little extra attention to the food items being brought into the home. Easily forgotten items such as hot chocolate, baking chocolate and cocoa powder are a risk and must be stored just as safely as pre-packaged, holiday-themed candy. Visiting family members and guests should be reminded of this safety precaution.

What do I do if my dog eats chocolate? 

DO NOT PANIC! Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine which can raise the dog’s heart rate and excite the nervous system. Unlike humans, dogs metabolize theobromine slowly. If consumed, there may be changes in the dog’s behavior. If your dog exhibits physical or behavioral changes, it’s important to call the veterinarian. If you don’t notice changes right away, pay careful attention to your dog as symptoms may not arise for up to 6 to 12 hours.

Common symptoms of chocolate poisoning in dogs:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Hyperactivity
  • Rapid breathing
  • Increased heart rate
  • Rigid muscles
  • Increased urination
  • Excessive thirst

Extreme symptoms include seizures and cardiac failure. However, there is no need to hit the panic button and fear the worst if the dog has only consumed a small amount of chocolate. As a dog parent, calling the vet is still the smartest option.

 

What should I know moving forward?

Being aware that certain chocolates are more harmful than others is an important tool in a dog parent’s arsenal. A general rule of thumb is the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is. The toxicity level depends upon the pet’s weight and the amount ingested. For every 10 pounds of weight on the dog, approximately 1.5 ounces of dark chocolate is toxic. For more diluted chocolates like milk chocolate, every 10 pounds of weight on the dog, 3.5 ounces of milk chocolate is toxic.

Before dialing the vet, it would be helpful to know the weight of the dog, what type of chocolate was consumed and how much was consumed. Typically, dogs vomit the ingested chocolate on their own; however, your vet may want to see your dog to err on the side of caution. In this case, they may induce vomiting to expel any undigested chocolate and toxins, flush the dog’s stomach or give it a dose of activated charcoal to absorb any remaining toxins before they reach the bloodstream. Keep in mind that early treatment will help the dog recover more quickly.

 

As you purchase candy this season, be wary of the chocolate brought into your home. In some cases, eating chocolate can cause mild to fatal symptoms for our pets. Be sure to keep the chocolate out of sight so that you can enjoy it without worry!

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