With all the bustle of holiday festivities, it is easy to overlook potential dangers to your pets. Dogs, especially, love to investigate packages and are as tempted as other family members by bowls of nuts and snacks on coffee and end tables, holiday chocolates that may fall to the floor, and other temptations.  A few precautions can save your dog and other family members from having your holidays marred with tragedy.

Below are some of the foods and other substances that are harmful to dogs, particularly at this time of the year. Signs of ingestion can include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing, staggering, abdominal pain, lethargy, tremors, convulsions, coma and death. If you notice your canine displaying any of these warning signs, don’t wait and risk severe damage or the death of your dog. Contact your vet or emergency pet clinic immediately.

Foods 

Avocado (all parts)

Broccoli (large amounts)

Coffee grounds, beans & tea (caffeine)

Garlic (large amounts)

Grapes

Hops (used in home brewing)

Macadamia nuts

Mushrooms (certain species. Avoid all to prevent the chance of severe liver disease and neurological disorders.) 

Onions (large amounts)

Pear pits; seeds of plums, peaches and apricots

Potato peelings

Raisins

Rhubarb leaves

Salmon (Raw)

Sugarless candies (Poisoning info available from the NAPCC (1-888-426-4435).

Tomato leaves & stems (green parts)

Yeast dough

Also, avoid feeding your dog leftovers from holiday dinners. Fat-laden table scraps can cause stomach problems and pancreatitis. It is best to feed your dog its regular diet, not plates of stuffing and gravy.  

Beverages and Smoking Supplies

Alcohol

Coffee / Cocoa

Cigarettes, Cigars, other Tobacco Products

Holiday Plants and Décor

Christmas Rose

Mistletoe Berries (one or two can be fatal)

Poinsettia

Dogs have also been known to snack on Christmas tree light bulbs and ornaments and chew on extension cords. Be sure your dog understands these are not toys. Also, never allow your pet to drink from the water in the Christmas tree stand.

Ease the Stress

Pets sometimes have a difficulty adjusting to the increased family activity around the holidays. They may also experience stress with house guests. Taking just a few minutes each day to spend in a familiar routine of play, training or exercising with your dog can make the holidays a lot easier for an anxious canine as well as your two-legged family members.