{"id":27639,"date":"2015-11-18T13:23:43","date_gmt":"2015-11-18T21:23:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.famouschihuahua.com\/?p=27639"},"modified":"2015-11-18T13:23:43","modified_gmt":"2015-11-18T21:23:43","slug":"thanksgiving-safety-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.famouschihuahua.com\/chihuahua-health-concerns\/thanksgiving-safety-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"helpful tips to keep your chihuahua safe and happy this thanksgiving holiday!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"chihauhua<\/p>\n

when you treat your chihuahua just like a member of the family, you want them to be around for all the holiday festivities.\u00a0 of course, chihuahuas don\u2019t understand the reason for the season quite like we do.\u00a0 to them, thanksgiving means lots of great smells, extra food, and people, which can be very overwhelming.<\/p>\n

in order to keep them safe and happy, it\u2019s important to remember a few simple tips.\u00a0 from using a dog fence to prevent kitchen accidents<\/a>,<\/strong> to keeping table scraps out of their bowl, here are a few easy ways to ensure thanksgiving goes smoothly for you and your chihuahua.<\/p>\n

keep your chihuahua out of the kitchen while cooking<\/b><\/p>\n

did you know that kitchen accidents involving dogs are fairly common, and even more so during the holidays?\u00a0 the kitchen can be a dangerous place for your chihauhua, especially when activity is increased to prepare thanksgiving dinner.<\/p>\n

if you want to keep your chihuahua away while you\u2019re cooking, but don\u2019t want to lock them in a room or crate, you can consider an indoor wireless dog fence as a barrier<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 this works well because when you use an invisible dog fence<\/a>,<\/strong> your own path to and from the kitchen isn\u2019t blocked by a gate you need to step over.<\/p>\n

with you chihuahua out of the kitchen and out of harm’s way, you won\u2019t worry about tripping and injuring them or yourself with hot food or sharp knives.\u00a0 cooking for thanksgiving is stressful enough without worry about accidents.<\/p>\n

beware of what your chihauhua eats<\/b><\/p>\n

once everyone sits down to enjoy thanksgiving dinner, you can bet your chihauhua will want to get in on the deliciousness, too.\u00a0 the safest bet, however, is to avoid feeding your chihuahua any of the meal, especially things they\u2019ve never eaten before.\u00a0 new foods and overfeeding can cause a stomach ache for your chihuahua.\u00a0 fatty foods, especially turkey skin, can cause pancreatitis.<\/p>\n

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\"chihuahua<\/p>\n

turkey bones can choke your dog or pierce their throat or insides.\u00a0 grapes, nuts, raisins, etc. can cause choking.\u00a0 the sugar substitute xylitol and chocolate are poisonous to dogs.\u00a0 a smart idea is to take the garbage out immediately after the meal, so your chihuahua can\u2019t get into it later.<\/p>\n

travel safe <\/b><\/p>\n

if you opt to travel with your chihuahua this thanksgiving, be sure to do so safely.\u00a0 your chihuahua should wear a special dog harness<\/a><\/strong> or have a travel safe dog seat<\/a><\/strong> in the car.\u00a0 this protects them in accidents and prevents them from getting into the front and distracting the driver.\u00a0 a small crate works, too, if you don\u2019t have a car harness.<\/p>\n

when staying with relatives, inquire about their home and yard.\u00a0 for example, ask if they can provide a quiet space for your chihuahua, and find out if their yard is protected by a traditional fence or an electronic dog fence<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 if you own a portable electric fence for dogs and your chihuahua is trained on it<\/a><\/strong>, bring it with you.\u00a0 if you go to a house that isn\u2019t dog-proof, look carefully for hazards, such as cleaning products or medications within reach.<\/p>\n

give safety tips to your relatives <\/b><\/p>\n

discuss your chihuahua’s safety with anyone you spend the holiday with so they can watch out for your chihuahua too.\u00a0 it\u2019s easy to get distracted with all the hustle and bustle and your loved ones might notice your chihuahua acting funny before you do.\u00a0 ask them to inform you if they notice anything odd.<\/p>\n

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also, remind them not to feed your chihuahua any table scraps and not to leave their plates or drinks unattended.\u00a0 if young children are present, tell them that they shouldn\u2019t hug, kiss, or chase your chihuahua.\u00a0 if you leave your chihuahua with relatives, make sure they have your vet\u2019s phone number.<\/p>\n

watch for environmental hazards <\/b><\/p>\n

there are some additional environmental hazards that you should recognize.\u00a0 if you decorate for thanksgiving with things like corn stalks or pumpkins, keep them out of reach of your chihuahua.\u00a0 while they are nontoxic<\/a>,<\/strong> your chihuahua could choke or get an intestinal blockage by eating large pieces.<\/p>\n

lit candles are one of the biggest dangers; make sure your chihauhua can\u2019t knock them over.\u00a0 if you\u2019re plugging in any decorations, keep the cords hidden so your chihuahua won\u2019t chew on them.<\/p>\n

look out for stress signals from your chihuahua <\/b><\/p>\n

finally, make sure you can recognize signs of stress in your chihauhua.\u00a0 chihuahuas are often stressed out by all the activity of the holidays, especially when there are a lot more people around than usual.\u00a0 if you think your chihauhua is getting stressed out, move them to a quiet area with toys, food, and plenty of water to allow them to relax for a bit.<\/p>\n

signals to look for include:<\/p>\n