How to Keep Your Pup Safe on New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve is filled with anticipation and hope for the coming year, but what is exciting for us can be downright frightening to most dogs.
Here comes New Year’s Eve! People are giving thanks for the past year and making plans for a bountiful new year. Party preparations might be in full gear, but don’t forget about preparing your pup for this loud, excitement-filled holiday.
Most dogs love to be a part of festivities, but some holidays, such as the Fourth of July and NYE, include fireworks and other extremely noisy additions. If you have a firework-reactive dog (and most are) that becomes anxious at the noise, they might get so frightened that they bolt and get lost. In this article, we discuss how to prevent that, why dogs fear fireworks, other big NYE dangers, and how to keep dogs safe on New Year’s Eve.
The reason dogs fear fireworks
Fireworks are scary for animals and some humans, too. It’s an evolutionary trait for animals to fear them because they hear a loud, frightening sound and they don’t know what it is, where it’s coming from, or if it will stop. Running away from loud noises kept dogs alive. However, dogs can also react differently to loud noises, depending on the breed and temperament. Some may pace, others whimper, and hide while others may hardly seem bothered.
NYE risks for dogs
NYE is not a quiet occasion. There are lots of celebrations with food, alcoholic beverages, sparkling decorations, loud noises, laughter, and of course, fireworks. Unfortunately, many of these things pose risks for pups, including:
Garbage
Garbage left over after family celebrations is always tempting to a dog. People throw away so many exciting things to a pup. It’s hard to resist, especially when you exist at eye level. Even dogs that don’t get into the trash can be tempted during this time of year.
That is a significant risk because of all the harmful things like bones, glass from bottles, and foods that may be toxic to dogs inside. Dogs can easily get very sick or hurt if they get into the wrong things in a trash bag left over after a NYE party.
Alcohol
Consuming adult beverages can cause alcohol toxicity in dogs. Even alcohol-infused foods can cause a pup’s body temperature, blood sugar, and blood pressure to drop. Toxicity levels will fluctuate based on the amount consumed, the size of the dog, and the type of alcohol.
A surprising cause of alcohol toxicity in pets is yeast dough. When dogs eat it, the yeast continues raising the dough, inflating the dog’s stomach and releasing deadly levels of ethanol into its bloodstream. The real danger is alcohol toxicosis, however.
Balloons, confetti, and streamers
Aside from the noise they create, decorations such as balloons, streamers, and confetti pose physical dangers. Balloons can be choking hazards or cause intestinal obstructions. Tinsel and other string-like items and confetti can get stuck beneath a dog’s tongue or in their stomach – another prospective trigger for intestinal obstruction.
It’s still possible to enjoy NYE with your dog, however, despite the risks. The key is to do some dog-forward planning before the festivities.
NYE dog safety tips
Planning ahead makes all the difference to a dog-safe holiday. There are lots of ways to make festivities safer for pets. Here are a few quick and easy tips that will make a big difference:
Exercise early
Getting out and expending a lot of energy early in the day can help keep your pup calmer when the celebrations start. Walking early also helps avoid anyone on the road who may have overindulged.
Designate a safe space
The easiest solution of all is just to put your dog in a bedroom, bathroom, or somewhere they feel comfortable and safe while the action is happening. Ensure they get proper bathroom breaks and attention when needed. Some dogs just prefer to bury themselves under the covers until everyone leaves and the noise dies down.
Keep everything out of your dog’s reach
It isn’t always easy but keeping everything risky out of your dog’s reach is helpful. While pups have a way of getting what they want if they want it badly enough, there is always some place that’s unreachable if you focus. Toxic foods, party favors, and other risky items should be kept off of the floor.
You can enjoy NYE with your pup! Just keep all of the unique risks in mind to ensure your dog is safe and happy.
We are excited to see pups at the holidays, too!
Dogs make the holidays that much better. It’s so fun to see them enjoying themselves along with the rest of the family. Just make sure to follow these tips for a safe and healthy New Year’s Eve with your precious pup.
At Scenthound, we care about your dog as though they were part of our family. As the first wellness-focused, membership-based dog grooming franchise, Scenthound is differentiated from traditional dog grooming that focuses on breed-specific styling. Our services are centered around routine and preventive care for dogs in five core areas: Skin, Coat, Ears, Nails, and Teeth (S.C.E.N.T.). Find your Scenthound location today and get your pup holiday-ready.
