Author: Jamie Case, DVM

The following may contain Chewy links. PetMD is operated by Chewy. Dogs are naturally curious creatures, and the holidays offer the opportunity for them to investigate many new objects and foods. Christmas trees in particular can be intriguing to dogs—but pose a risk for a number of reasons. It’s critical to protect your Christmas tree and holiday decorations from your dog to avoid accidents that may result in injury or illness.  Why Should I Dog-Proof My Christmas Tree? Given the opportunity, many dogs will gladly investigate a new, interesting object in the home. It can be frustrating when dogs disrupt the freshly decorated Christmas tree, but an encounter with the Christmas tree could also cause your dog to injure themselves—enough that a trip to the veterinarian is needed. If you notice your dog is injured or not feeling well after messing with the Christmas tree, contact your local veterinary clinic immediately.  Common accidents that can happen when your dog has access to the Christmas tree include: Knocking Over the Christmas Tree  As dogs sniff, play, and investigate, they may accidentally get too rough and knock the tree over. As the tree falls, it can land on them and hurt them. Even smaller and lighter trees pose a risk to larger dogs, because they may jump or twist as they get startled and sprain or strain a muscle. Ingesting Decorations and Ornaments Everyone loves a decorated Christmas tree, but ornaments, tinsel, garland, candy canes, and foods hung from the tree can be hard to resist for most pups. Delicate glass ornaments and the hooks used to hang them can injure a dog’s mouth and, if swallowed, can cause injuries to the stomach and intestines.  Strings and tinsel can be fun to chew on but, if swallowed, can cause choking or obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract. If candy or food hung from the tree is ingested, a dog may end up with an upset stomach (vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite) or, worse, toxicity poisoning. Sugar-free candies that contain xylitol and artificial sweeteners, peppermint candy canes, gingerbread men, and salt dough ornaments can all cause harm to dogs and are best left off the tree.  Loose Tree Needles and Lights  Fresh trees and aging artificial trees may lose needles, which can be sharp. If a dog ingests a needle from the tree, the needle could poke through the stomach or intestines, resulting in serious infection in the abdomen. In addition, lights strung from the tree may become hot and could cause burns on a dog’s mouth if touched or chewed on. Dogs can also electrocute themselves if they chew on electrical wires. This can cause burns and pain in the mouth or could result in irregular heartbeats, pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), brain damage, or death. Water from live trees may contain oils, such as fir or pine oil, which can cause irritation to the stomach. The water may also be treated with fertilizers, pesticides, or preservatives that could be toxic to a dog. Be sure to monitor your dog when around the Christmas tree to ensure protective measures are in place to avoid any injuries. How To Protect Christmas Trees From a Dog There are many things that can go wrong if your dog is left unsupervised with a Christmas tree, but there are things you can do to help keep your dog (and your tree) safe this holiday season.  Use a Fence or Gate for Protection  Try to limit your dog’s access to the tree by putting a gate or fence around the tree. Likewise, pens used to keep dogs confined are a great way to keep pups away from the tree. You may want to consider limiting access to the room where the Christmas tree is located by using dog gates. Even if your dog hasn’t shown much interest in the tree, it is best to not leave them unsupervised around it. When you’re away, consider keeping your dog in their kennel to keep them safe.  Wire Safety Keep your dog safe by tucking away wires and keeping them out of reach. Avoid stringing lights from the lower branches of the tree, keep electrical wires within the confines of a gate, and consider using special protectors designed to prevent your dog from chewing on wires.  Use Pet-safe Decorations When decorating the tree, use trimmings that are safe for dogs. Avoid tinsel on the tree, use string or ribbon in place of metal hooks to hang ornaments, avoid using fragile ornaments, and avoid hanging food or candy. Avoid hanging decorations from lower branches where they can be easily reached.  Fasten the Tree and Ornaments Fasten the tree to a wall or secure place to help keep it from falling on your dog. Make sure ornaments and decorations on the tree are securely attached as well. Ornaments can be tied to the tree using ribbon or string, or they can be fastened to branches using twist ties. Maintenance and Cleanup Make sure to sweep up needles and debris (both from artificial and real trees) frequently to help prevent curious pets from ingesting them. Keeping real trees watered may help decrease needle shedding, but take steps to prevent pets from drinking the water. An Elizabethan collar or E-collar can be placed around the tree stand to help keep pets out of the water. You can also get creative and find ways to cover the water with a plastic lid or foil.  Leave the Presents for Christmas Don’t just think about what you are putting on the tree to keep your dog safe—keep in mind what you are putting under it as well. Avoid putting presents under the tree until you are ready to open them. If you do put presents under the tree, don’t place presents that contain food or interesting scents. Keep any presents under the tree within a pen or gate to prevent your dog from accessing them. Set up a Camera or Alarm, Just in Case Find a way to monitor the tree when you aren’t home (or when you are in a different area of the house). Put a pet camera on the tree so you can monitor if your dog is messing with it, or use an alarm system that alerts you or makes a noise if your dog gets too close to the tree. It’s also helpful for an alarm to notify you if a dog knocks down the gate or pen that is protecting the tree.  Keeping your dog and Christmas tree safe this holiday season may require a little creative thinking and some steps to teach your pet some new boundaries, but it will be worth it to avoid the injuries or illnesses that can result from inappropriate interactions with the Christmas tree. If your dog does get into trouble and is showing signs of injury or not feeling well, make sure to reach out to their veterinarian to discuss what next steps to consider. Featured Image: iStock.com/Aleksandar Jankovic

WRITTEN BYJamie Case, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Jamie Case graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017, after receiving a Bachelor of Science…,All puppies will experience vomiting or diarrhea at some point—and most of the time, it doesn’t mean there’s anything seriously wrong. However, it’s not a good idea to dismiss vomiting or diarrhea in your puppy, especially if you see blood or mucus or if it’s happening often. Learn more about the causes of vomiting and diarrhea in puppies and when you should see your veterinarian to make sure there are no serious underlying causes.   Causes of Vomiting and Diarrhea in Puppies There are many reasons your puppy might be vomiting or have diarrhea, from harmless to serious medical conditions. Some conditions might cause blood in the vomit or diarrhea as well. In many cases, it’s impossible to tell what’s causing the upset just by looking at the vomit or diarrhea. The best way to figure out what’s going on is by going to the vet to make sure it’s not serious. Many times, multiple underlying causes will be identified. Here’s a list of the most common causes of vomiting and diarrhea in puppies. Viruses There are several viruses that can cause signs of an upset stomach in puppies. These include the common canine parvovirus, as well as other viruses like canine coronavirus, canine distemper virus, and canine herpesvirus. Viral infections tend to be more severe in young puppies. You can protect your puppy against many of the most common viruses with vaccinations. Typically, puppies require multiple vaccinations spread out over the first several months of life to be fully vaccinated, so work with your veterinarian to determine the most appropriate vaccination schedule for your puppy. Bacteria A healthy puppy’s digestive tract normally contains many strains of bacteria that cause no health issues. However, if certain strains of bacteria multiply too quickly or overgrow, or if your puppy picks up a bacterial infection, it can cause gastrointestinal upset. Bacteria that commonly overgrow include E. coli and Clostridial bacteria, which are both normally present in the GI tract. Stress, a sudden change in diet, a viral infection, or intestinal parasites can all cause these bacteria to overgrow. Bacterial infections that may cause vomiting and diarrhea include: Salmonella Campylobacter Yersinia enterocolitica These bacteria are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted to people, so it’s very important to wash your hands after handling a puppy that is experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. Intestinal Parasites Intestinal parasites are another common infectious cause of vomiting and diarrhea in puppies. Even if you don’t see worms in the vomit or diarrhea, and even if your puppy has been dewormed, puppies are highly susceptible to intestinal parasites. The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends that puppies be tested for intestinal parasites at least four times in their first year of life. Worms that may cause vomiting and diarrhea in puppies include hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. There are also microscopic intestinal parasites that can lead to gastrointestinal upset, including giardia and coccidia. Stress No matter how playful your puppy seems most of the time, it’s good to remember that puppyhood is a stressful time of life, and stress can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Stress can also affect immune system function and may make puppies more susceptible to viruses, bacteria, and intestinal parasites. Stress can come from leaving their mom and siblings, moving to a new home, being exposed to new situations, and learning the rules that are expected of them. Swallowing Things Puppies are curious and constantly exploring their environment. As a result, they often eat things they’re not supposed to, which can result in either vomiting or diarrhea. Many things puppies eat that cause upset are small enough to pass through the digestive system, irritating the sensitive lining of the stomach and intestines. This can include small toys, mulch, sand, rocks, sticks, paper, food wrappers, or really anything a puppy can get access to and is curious about. This can even include chew treats that were not completely chewed before swallowing. Larger objects are potentially more dangerous because they can get stuck in the gastrointestinal tract and cause an obstruction. Depending on where it’s stuck and whether it’s causing a complete obstruction (nothing can move past the object) or partial obstruction (some things are able to move past the object), this may be a medical emergency. Some larger objects that puppies commonly eat include toys, socks, underwear, blankets, bedding, and bones. Long, stringy objects like fabric, carpet, strings, and ribbons also pose a risk for causing what is known as a linear foreign body. A linear foreign body occurs when one end of a long, linear object gets stuck in the gastrointestinal tract (often where the stomach empties into the small intestine). This can cause the intestines to bunch up on themselves and results in serious, potentially life-threatening infections. Eating Something Toxic Toxins are also common causes of vomiting and diarrhea. Ingesting a toxin may cause a serious medical emergency, so if you suspect your puppy ate something toxic, it’s important that they be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Common toxins include human pain medications (ibuprofen, Tylenol, Aleve), household cleaning agents (bleach, carpet fresheners and shampoos, dryer sheets, fabric softeners, and tablets used for toilet cleaning), chocolate, xylitol, grapes, rat poisons, and household plants. It is particularly important to make sure that none of your plants are toxic to puppies. Sudden Changes in Diet Sudden changes in food, introducing too many new treats, or letting your puppy eat human food can cause inflammation in their gastrointestinal tract and may lead to signs of an upset stomach. New foods can also alter the bacteria in their gastrointestinal tract. It is best to gradually transition puppies to new foods over the course of a week (sometimes even more slowly if you have a puppy with a sensitive digestive system).  Pancreatitis  Treats and human foods that are high in fat pose a risk of causing pancreatitis, which can cause a lot of pain and discomfort in addition to vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. Chronic Disease Chronic diseases are a less common cause of vomiting and diarrhea in puppies, but if a puppy is having issues with recurrent vomiting and diarrhea or is not responding well to treatment, their veterinarian may start to look for evidence of food intolerances or allergies. If an allergy or intolerance is discovered, your vet may recommend a special diet. Depending on your puppy’s other symptoms, your vet may also test for underlying liver or kidney disease, which can both contribute to vomiting and diarrhea. Other Potential Causes of Vomiting and Diarrhea in Puppies Hernias in puppies can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. A hernia occurs when a portion of the gastrointestinal tract becomes pinched off. Puppies can be born with hernias or they may develop after an injury. Intussusceptions, which occur when a section of the intestines bunches up, can lead to obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract and cause vomiting and diarrhea in puppies.