Households are being warned of a potential danger posed by Christmas trees (Image: Getty)
UK households with a are being warned it could pose a potential danger.
If you have a pet dog at home then having a in your house is a risk as they can be harmful to pooches if any of the needles are accidentally ingested.
The Kennel Club warns that while most species of Christmas tree are low in toxicity, the oils from pine needles can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs if they’re swallowed. Not only that, the sharpness of the needles could also cause injury to your dog’s mouth and throat.
It warned: “Christmas is a time of the year when lots of unusual and exciting things are brought into 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 presents will all be of great interest to your dog, but some of these things may be harmful if eaten.
“Most species of Christmas tree are of low toxicity, but oils from the needles may be irritating to the mouth and stomach, causing excessive dribbling, vomiting and diarrhoea if chewed. Needles from these trees are sharp and could cause physical injury in your dog’s mouth and throat.”
Households are advised to put precautions in place to help keep your dog safe and avoid any emergency trips to the vet this Christmas.
It’s recommended that you put a tree guard or pet gate around the tree to prevent your pooch from getting to it, and to keep the bottom branches bare so that lights, tinsel and baubles are well out of reach.
It’s also worth putting your tree up for a few days before decorating it as this can help your dog acclimatise to having it in the room before the lights and tinsel come out, and be sure to tape any electric wires down to prevent them being chewed.
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Of course if you’re worried having a real Christmas tree in your home is too much of a hazard for your dog, you can always opt for an artificial one instead as these don’t drop any needles and so are less harmful to pets.
Households 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 it shouldn’t this Christmas you should speak to your vet for advice immediately and tell them what poison you think your pet has been exposed to. In the event you have to take your dog in to see your vet you should take along a sample of the poison, such as a branch of the Christmas tree.