‘Tis the Season to be Careful Decorating the salon with boughs of holly and putting on a display of Christmas lights gets everyone in the festive spirit, but when the emphasis is on fun and having a good time it’s easy to forget that most of the trappings of Christmas are potentially very dangerous to pets and whether this is in the salon or at home there are many dangers lurking.
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hristmas lights are a source of fascination to pets - as is the cable providing the power. A pet biting through the wires could sustain very serious burns and even cause one of the 300 accidents that occur every year* as a result of aged, faulty and ‘pet
accessible’ Christmas lights. For some pets the novelty factor is just too much to resist! Warn any clients with ‘well-fed’ pets that although over indulgence is one of the prerequisites of the Christmas period, it has its own dangers. A slice of turkey breast and a helping of carrots and sprouts is fine as long as it is not preceded or followed by the pet’s normal meals of the day. A large dog, filled with a large meal taken on an energetic walk is a potential victim of gastric torsion (twisted gut). Unless treated immediately the condition can prove fatal.
To avoid disaster for pets at Christmas prepare the ground with six salon safety firsts: • Fairy lights are responsible for more than 300 accidents a year and pets can rarely resist them. Cover any trailing power cables to discourage dogs from biting or playing with the wires. • Decorations are best hung well out of paws’ reach. Treading on a glass bauble or swallowing a bite-size decoration can cause a dog a great deal of pain and require immediate veterinary attention. • Plants such as holly, mistletoe and poinsettia make a traditional appearance at Christmas but they are poisonous to pets. Make sure that they
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are displayed well out of harm’s way and that all berries are cleared away before a dog clears them first. • Treats are often shared and enjoyed by dog and owner but sweet treats are bad for the dog’s teeth and waistline. Chocolate also contains the chemical theobromine, which is poisonous to dogs. • Toys are a must at Christmas and you may wish to give clients’ pets a gift, but check the quality of each item before you present it to them. That Santa squeaker or Christmas cracker novelty toy may not be all that it’s
cracked up to be. • Safety, especially in crowded rooms is paramount. Keep canines safe from harm and away from the temptation of tit-bits left in bins and on high work surfaces. The urge to leap up may prove disastrous. Always keep your vet’s telephone number and a pen by the phone in case of an emergency. Accidents will happen – if you let them. *Source RoSPA
