A lot of the traditional Christmas tree decorations are very dangerous to dogs. They house many hazards, from choking risks and stomach issues to electrocution and poisoning.
Swap them out with these dog-friendly ornaments to keep your furry pal out of danger this holiday season.
Dog-Safe Christmas Tree Decoration #1
Solar-Powered Christmas Lights
Fairy lights add a more festive air to the Christmas season, but they are dangerous for your four-legged friend. Their bright lights might attract his curiosity, leading him to chew on them and get accidentally electrocuted.
A safer alternative to fairy lights is solar-powered Christmas lights. They pose less danger of electrocution since they do not need to be connected to a live wire.
Their light source comes from solar energy, which is stored in extra low-voltage rechargeable batteries.
However, it is still important to keep solar-powered Christmas lights out of your dog’s reach. Although they are more durable than glass-encased fairy lights, chewing on their plastic casing might break the wires. This puts your dog in danger of choking.
Fortunately, solar-powered Christmas lights do not always need an electrical outlet. So they can be placed higher on the Christmas tree and out of your furry pal’s reach.
Just make sure that it is fully charged when used. Typically, most solar-powered Christmas lights need around 4–12 hours of daylight to charge fully.
Dog-Safe Christmas Tree Decoration #2
Dog-Friendly Christmas Plants
Many popular holiday plants carry different dangers to dogs. Here are some varieties to keep away this Christmas season:
- Poinsettia: Mildly toxic to dogs. Its white sap contains toxins that can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
- Holly: Its leaves, berries, bark, and seeds are mildly toxic to dogs. They contain saponin, which induces gastrointestinal distress.
- Cyclamen: It possesses irritating compounds called terpenoid saponins. When ingested, this plant may cause vomiting, diarrhea, and hypersalivation in dogs.
- American and European Mistletoe: Both plants are poisonous to dogs, but the European species tend to be more toxic. Common side effects caused by these 2 are depression and vomiting.
- Amaryllis: It contains toxic chemicals such as lycorine, which can trigger stomach issues and neural problems in
No need to entirely remove holiday plants from your list of Christmas tree decors. There are plenty of dog-friendly substitutes that you can buy from the florist or nursery, such as:
- African Violet
- Boston Fern
- Christmas Cactus
- Peperomia
- Spider Plant
- Polka Dot Plant
Do keep in mind that although these plants are nontoxic, ingesting them in large amounts can upset your canine companion’s stomach.
Make sure to place them in inaccessible areas to him, such as on top of the shelves. For double safety, use deterrents like citrus or bitter apple repellent spray on the plants.
Dog-Safe Christmas Tree Decoration #3
Textile or Wooden Christmas Ornaments
Classic glass and ceramic holiday ornaments easily shatter if they fall from the Christmas tree. It leaves your dog and even other family members in danger of stepping on sharp glass fragments.
On the other hand, plastic ornaments are more durable but can cause stomach obstruction in canines if ingested. If broken into pieces, the plastic may form sharp edges that may lacerate your dog’s mouth and digestive tract.
Other dangerous Christmas tree decorations to steer clear of are:
- Ribbons
- Popcorn and Cranberry Garlands
- Candy Canes
- Chocolate Decors
For your dog’s safety, choose ornaments made out of cloth or wood, as they do not easily break. If you prefer the wooden variety, avoid the ones that are created from trees that are toxic to dogs, such as Norfolk pine and cedar.
Moreover, it would be best to opt for ornaments that are flat and unexciting. They are less likely to catch your furry pal’s attention, unlike shiny and reflective Christmas decors.
When putting up the holiday ornaments on the Christmas tree, place them on the upper part. Leave the bottom third of the tree bare to keep your dog from grabbing any of the decors.
Use strings to hang them up instead of sharp metal hooks that can cause life-threatening internal trauma when consumed by dogs.
Dog-Safe Christmas Tree Decoration #4
Dog-Friendly and Edible Christmas Wrapping Paper
Nothing makes the holidays more exciting than the gift-wrapped presents beneath the Christmas tree. Shiny foils and wrapping paper adorned with ribbons are commonly used for swaddling the gifts.
They are choking hazards and potential stomach obstructions to your pooch. Additionally, wrapping paper tends to contain traces of harmful chemicals such as bleach and chlorine, which can endanger his health.
For this reason, consider using other alternatives like:
- Dog-Friendly Wrapping Paper
Typically made out of soy-based ink, this wrapping paper does not pose harm to most dogs unless they have soy allergies.
Since it has self-adhesive tape, there is no need to use additional tape or ribbons when wrapping presents. Regardless if it is dog-friendly, dispose of the wrapping paper properly after use.
- Edible Wrapping Paper
Also known as wafer paper, it is often composed of natural potato starch and dog-safe edible natural inks. To wrap gifts in it, just rub a clean wet cloth on the edges to seal them because the paper is water-soluble.
Edible wrapping paper tends to come in flavors like beef or chicken. Thus, it is ideal for wrapping your pooch’s presents, but not anybody else’s. Otherwise, he will be very tempted to chew on gifts that are not his.
In relation to this, hide the Christmas presents from your furry pal until it is time to open them. Never leave them underneath the Christmas tree. This way, you do not have to worry about gifts getting chewed on or drooled on by him.
How to Create a Dog-Friendly Christmas Tree
Fir and pine are most commonly used as Christmas trees. Both of these are health hazards to pooches since their needles and sap contain an irritating substance. Exposure to them can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Another problem about real Christmas trees is their constant shedding of sharp needles. They can puncture your dog’s feet when stepped on.
The same thing may happen if he ingests them, but with the added risk of internal damage and stomach blockage.
Here are some tips to make your Christmas tree safe for your four-legged friend:
1. Choose an artificial Christmas tree.
Artificial Christmas trees do not drop needles, saving your dog from the dangers we have mentioned earlier. Also, it is less likely to carry the scent of the great outdoors. This will keep him from constantly hanging around it.
Here are some things to bear in mind when choosing an artificial Christmas tree:
- Avoid getting a predecorated Christmas tree since it might be adorned with dangerous decorations such as plastic Christmas balls and ribbons. Some also have fake snow and tinsels, which can cause impaction and choking in dogs.
- Having a sturdy base is crucial to keep the artificial Christmas tree from getting knocked over easily. Ideally, go for a metal base since it provides more stability than plastic.If this is not feasible, use a weighted base or a Christmas tree stand to secure the bottom safely in place.
- You do not always have to go big. Instead of acquiring a 7-foot-tall artificial Christmas tree, think about getting the smaller tabletop variety.It is easier to decorate and keep away from your furry pal. This is also a great option for pawrents with limited space in their homes.
2. Surround your Christmas tree with barriers.
If you have an overly curious dog, you need to protect the Christmas tree from his nosiness. Use a baby gate or an exercise pen to act as a fence. You can also repurpose unused large boxes as barriers by placing weights inside them.
If you have a small dog or a puppy, simply build a wall around the Christmas tree using bigger and heavier presents. However, they should not contain fragile items or human food, which may entice your furry friend to open them.
3. Hang a few bells on the Christmas tree.
You will not be able to keep a constant eye on your furry pal during the busy holiday season. Make supervision easier by placing bells on the Christmas tree. Their ringing will alert you if he is trying to grab the decor hung on the tree.
Some of the tips we have shared will not make your Christmas tree visually appealing. However, they will help keep your furry pal from getting into dangerous accidents during the holidays.