Day 5- Doggy Zen Den
A doggy zen den is a great tool to use to help your dog feel more secure in their home. It can be created with your dogs crate covered by a blanket (ideally one that already has their scent on it) and their bed placed inside. The door can be kept open to allow your dog to walk in and out at their own pleasure. Any guests should be told not to disturb the dog while they are in the crate which creates a place they can go and hide should they become overwhelmed.
An activity feeder can be used to create a happy experience for the dogs while they are inside the crate and because we want a happy experience, the crate should never be used as a punishment for any reason (i.e. for a time out).
To help create the feeling of Zen, we can also add a pheromone treatment alongside by plugging in an Adaptil or Pet Remedy diffuser, or even play some soothing music to help relax them. The music brings a much better feeling of calm if it has already been played during calm events to build an association.
Day 4- Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar alternative found in a lot of sugar-free products and is also toxic to dogs. It is most commonly found in sugar free gum and chewable vitamins but is becoming much more popular in baking as well which means it has found its way into cakes or other baked goods. Because of this it is important to check the product list for any sugar free products you purchase, but if you are unsure keep all produce out of reach for your dog.
Just like the last 2 days, if you think your dog has ingested any xylitol, call your vet for immediate advice.
Day 3- Raisins
Grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs and can lead to fatalities. Unlike chocolate there is no minimum amount that can be ingested to cause a toxicity and so a single grape can cause issues.
During the holidays raisins are found in mince pies and christmas pudding. This means that both these products need to be kept out of reach. If you have messy children coming over, ensure the dog is out of the room while the children are eating in case they drop any.
If you think your dog has eaten any amount of grapes or raisins then call the vet as soon as you are able and they will be able to advise you on the best course of action.
Day 2- Introduction and Chocolate
Introduction
As it is now December I have decided to create a series of videos discussing the potential hazards and challenges our dogs face during the holiday period. This blog has been created to run alongside those videos and provide a more in depth discussion on each of the topics and hopefully answer any questions that may arise from the videos.
If you would like to ask any questions or to view the videos I have linked my Facebook and Instagram account below.
I hope you enjoy this series of videos and learn something new.
https://www.facebook.com/pjbehaviour
https://www.instagram.com/pjbehaviour/
Chocolate
Chocolate is found in abundance at this time of year, between having chocolates available for our guests (or ourselves), advent calendars or chocolate tree decorations. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine which is toxic to our dogs, the darker the chocolate the higher the concentration of theobromine, which means it takes less dark chocolate to cause a toxicity than milk chocolate.
If you suspect that your dog has eaten any amount of chocolate, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible and let them know the weight of your dog, the amount of chocolate your dog has eaten, the cocoa content of the chocolate (which should be listed on the packet in the form of a percentage), and how long ago you think your dog ate it. Your vet can then advise whether medical intervention is required.
To prevent ingestion, make sure all chocolate is kept out of reach of your dog, either high on shelves or in cupboards. And if you are gifting any, make sure you (or they) do not put them under the tree until the last minute so the dog does not smell it and go exploring.