Christmas is a time of giving, a time of showing gratitude and celebrating our loved ones, including our four-legged friends.
After your puppy got you through the lockdown and made your work-from-home days a bit more enjoyable, it’s completely understandable that you want to show your love and make sure Santa comes to them too.
There’s no shortage of doggy gifts in stores, and you may have already seen those Christmas stockings for dogs in ads on your newsfeed. But before you get excited and add a bunch of them to your cart, you should know that they can be quite dangerous. As much as your puppy will love the surprise, and they’ll love chewing on the new toys, you should avoid store-bought Christmas stockings.
Pre-filled Christmas stockings for dogs usually contain rawhide chews,
Rawhide chews are a popular choice for dog owners but come with significant risks. Marketed as a way to clean teeth and provide entertainment, rawhide is often treated with harmful substances like arsenic, formaldehyde, and sodium sulphide—chemicals that can be toxic and, in some cases, even linked to cancer.
Many people don’t realise that rawhide is inedible. While dogs are meant to chew on it, they often swallow pieces, leading to serious problems. Swallowed rawhide can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, or even life-threatening digestive blockages that may require surgery.
In addition, rawhide poses a choking hazard. As dogs chew, rawhide becomes soft and stringy, and pieces can easily break off and lodge in their throats. This is particularly dangerous for brachycephalic breeds like bulldogs, French bulldogs, and pugs, who already face respiratory challenges.
For safer alternatives, opt for natural, digestible chews specifically designed for your dog’s health and safety. Your dog will thank you!
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Cheap toys – may look cute, but they can be dangerous.
Christmas stockings for dogs can be fun, but it’s important to think about what’s inside. Many pre-filled stockings often contain cheap, low-quality toys that may be unsafe for your dog. These toys often mass-produced overseas, can break easily or, in some cases, contain harmful chemicals that pose serious health risks. Unlike regulated products, some manufacturers use substances like BPA and phthalates, which are known to be unsafe. To keep your dog happy and healthy this festive season, choosing high-quality, safe toys and treats from trusted sources is always better.
So, if you want to get your beloved puppy a present this holiday season, it’s better to stay away from store-bought Stockings for dogs because they’re a disaster waiting to happen. Instead, buy their favourite healthy treats, homemade Christmas cookies, and some high-quality dog toys and put them into a Christmas stocking yourself. It’s a fun DIY gift, and even if it takes longer to put together, at least you know you’re not offering your dog something dangerous.
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