Christmas trees are generally not poisonous to dogs or other household pets but they can pose a number of other risks.
That said if your dog were to ingest the sap that a tree naturally produces they may suffer from mild gastric irritation but without any long term harm.
If we look at this wonderful tree we can easily list the main hazards that are presented to our inquisitive canine friends:
– Presents, they may contain food items which can be sniffed out
– Electrical wires
– Decorations
– The needles on the tree itself
Lets take some time to explore each of these to help ensure we are aware of the risks and how we can safeguard our dogs against potential harm:
Presents
We all like to give and receive food items at this time of year. Traditionally these include chocolate and nuts. Chocolate can be extremely toxic for dogs and it is not uncommon for them to become extremely ill after ingesting and can be potentially be fatal. To protect your pet do not leave any chocolatey pressie under the tree that can can be sniffed out and eaten. Most nuts are harmless to dogs but macadamia nuts or black walnuts can cause harm, To be extra safe we would advise not leaving ANY food based presents under the Christmas tree as they could pose and irresistible temptation.
Electrical wires
These can cause a number of possible hazards. Your dog may chew through a wire so we suggest using a plug in RCD (Electrical Current Device) which will break the current in milliseconds in the event of a short circuit. Christmas tree lights can also become a trip or tangle hazard so it’s best to try to keep them away from the floor or other areas in which your pup may get tangled.
Decorations
We are back to the C word.. Chocolate! Avoid any chocolate or other sweet based decorations. Not only is Chocolate toxic but so is Xylitol, an artificial sweetener used in many Christmas treats. Non food based decorations can also cause harm such as glass baubles should they fall and shatter it would be easy for your best friend to pick up a nasty cut on their paw.
The needles on the tree itself
Whilst not toxic it is not uncommon for dogs to be sniffing around the Christmas tree and get a needle lodged in their eye, keep a look out for irritated eyes.
Rather than posing the question “Are Christmas Trees Poisonous for Dogs? I actually think the question should have been “Are Christmas Trees Dangerous for Dogs?” I think we have established that they can pose potential dangers but with a little common sense there is no reason not to have a wonderful Christmas tree this, and every festive season.
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