Advice for dog-owners at Christmas

DOG owners are being offered some helpful advice to ensure their beloved pet enjoys Christmas as much as the rest of us. With all the festive decorations and extra food that comes with Christmas, there are more opportunities than ever for your dog to come

DOG owners are being offered some helpful advice to ensure their beloved pet enjoys Christmas as much as the rest of us.

With all the festive decorations and extra food that comes with Christmas, there are more opportunities than ever for your dog to come to harm, so bear in mind the following tips.

Keep decorations such as baubles and fairy light cables out of reach of your pet, as chewing on these could cause serious injury.

The same applies to seasonal plants such as amaryllis, poinsettias and mistletoe, which are all poisonous and should not be put in a position where they are likely to be eaten by your inquisitive dog.

Try to resist the puppy-dog eyes that look up at you while you enjoy your Christmas dinner - roast turkey with all the

trimmings is not suitable for canine digestion and could cause your pet more harm than good.

Also do not feed your pooch chocolate, particularly dark varieties, which can actually be fatally poisonous.

Uttlesford District Council's animal warden Sue Knight recommends that the best treat for your pet is an extra dog biscuit, or an edible toy such as a food cube.

She said: "Although most families and their

four-legged friends will

enjoy an incident free Christmas, I feel it is important to highlight the potential dangers of the yuletide break.

"Your dog will simply enjoy spending extra time with you and delighted to help you walk off your pudding and mince pies. Enjoy a very waggy Christmas.