Watching Out for Christmas Tree Lights
December 10, 2008 by Paris and John
Filed under Holidays & Your Dog, Tips
If you have a puppy in the house this holiday season, keep an eye out for your Christmas tree lights at all times. An enthusiastic puppy that tugs and pulls at the cord for the tree lights could pull the tree over on top of himself–and shatter ornaments into dangerous bits at the same time.
If your dogs is a chewer, you’ll have to be even more diligent. Even a nibble on the light cord can cause a severe electric shock if the cord is plugged into a socket. This can cause severe burns to the roof of the mouth and tongue, which can ulcerate, making it painful and difficult for your dog to eat. Severe shocks can cause unconsciousness, and even death. Electric shock can also lead to fluid build up in the lungs, and severe difficulty breathing.
How can you keep your pup safe around your Christmas tree? First, make sure that you’re in the room with the tree whenever it is plugged in. Also, you may be able to put a decorative fence around the tree to keep your dog away.
When you can’t directly supervise your dog around the tree, crate your dog or close off the Christmas tree room so he’s safe. It’s also a good idea to put PVC pipe around any electrical cords to stop your dog chewing them. You can also buy bitter sprays to deter chewing, but the success rate with sprays varies from dog to dog.
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