Warning to UK households with a Christmas tree in their living room | United Kingdom | News
UK households with a Christmas tree in their living room are being warned it could pose a potential danger.
If you have a pet dog at home, having a real Christmas tree in your home is a risk because it can be harmful to dogs if one of the needles is accidentally ingested.
The Kennel Club warns that although most species of Christmas trees are low in toxicity, oils from pine needles can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs if swallowed. Additionally, the sharpness of the needles could also cause injury to your dog’s mouth and throat.
It warned: “Christmas is a time of year when lots of unusual and exciting things happen in your home, making it a very tempting time for them to get up to all sorts of mischief. Interesting foods, unusual plants and trees, attractive decorations and Christmas gifts will all be of great interest to your dog, but some of these things can be harmful if eaten.
“Most Christmas tree species are minimally toxic, but oils from the needles can be irritating to the mouth and stomach, causing excessive dripping, vomiting and diarrhea if chewed. The needles on these trees are sharp and could cause physical injury to your dog’s mouth and throat.
Households are advised to take precautions to keep your dog safe and avoid any emergency visits to the vet this Christmas.
It is recommended to place a tree guard or pet gate around the tree to prevent your dog from accessing it and to keep the lower branches bare so that lights, tinsel and baubles are out of reach .
It’s also worth putting your tree up for a few days before decorating it, as this can help your dog acclimate to having it in the room before the lights and tinsel go out, and make sure you to tape all electrical wires to prevent them from being chewed.
Of course, if you are worried that having a real Christmas tree in your home will be too dangerous for your dog, you can always opt for an artificial tree, as it does not drop needles and is therefore less harmful to pets. company.
Householders should also note that several other festive plants can be harmful to dogs, including poinsettia, holly, mistletoe, ivy and potpourri.
If your dog eats something he shouldn’t eat this Christmas, you should seek advice from your veterinarian immediately and tell them what poison you think your pet may have been exposed to. If you need to take your dog to your veterinarian, you should take a sample of the poison, such as a Christmas tree branch.
