Welcome to this post on Chanukah dog safety tips.
Burning candles for eight nights, torn wrapping paper and discarded ribbon, dreidels spinning across the floor, jelly donuts, fried potato latkes with onions and chocolates in foil.
Wow, that’s a lot of hazards and what the heck is Chanukah?
Let me first say, I use “dogs” and “pets” interchangeably, as these tips are helpful for all pets we share our homes and lives with.
A Chanukah Story
For my beloved readers who aren’t familiar with the holiday of Chanukah, or heard the term but don’t know the details, here’s a quick summary.
The Greeks destroyed the holy temple. A group of Jews called the Maccabees fought against the Greeks and won, even though they were fewer than the Greeks. The Jews cleaned up the temple and found a very small bit of oil, which they used to light the menorah. The oil miraculously lasted for 8 days.
Candles
The candle holder is called a menorah. On the first night one candle is lit, on the second two are lit and so on until all 8 holders are filled. Candles are always placed from right to left, yet lit from left to right, signifying the greatness of the miracle that increased on each night.
Sounds beautiful doesn’t it? It really is, but lit candles are always a hazard when pets are around, and 8 nights!! The menorah is usually on a table or window sill, but we all have pets that can find a way to reach.
Dreidels
A dreidel is a 4-sided spinning top used to play a game of the same name. There is a Hebrew letter on each of the four sides – nun, gimel, hey, shin. They represent the first letter of each of the four words that make up the sentence (translated into English) “A great miracle happened there” – meaning the land of Israel.
Although dreidels come in various sizes, they are typically small and a definite choking hazard. Watching them spin is a very tempting sight for many, and for those of you who have dogs that like to experience everything with their mouths, it’s a danger.
Chanukah Gelt
Gelt, the Yiddish word for money, is given to kids as a gift. How many dropped coins end up on the floor, resembling a very tasty looking treat to your dog?
Chocolates
Chanukah gelt also refers to the gold foil wrapped round chocolates that resemble coins. Wrappers are nice shiny objects that attract our dog’s attention, and are perfect for licking any melted chocolate off of. We do know the dangers of chocolate don’t we?
Donuts and Latkes
I love them and I’m sure the dogs will as well, but are a definite no-no. Both are delicious but oily, which can cause pancreatitis in dogs. Latkes contain onions, another no go food.
Gift Wrap
When it comes to Chanukah gifts, there is no “standard” approach. It’s possible some families give their kids a little something each night, some give one gift, others a bit of money to teach them the value of giving. That’s a personal choice in every home, but I bring this up because of the dangers of leaving ribbon around to be used as a chew toy.
Is This the Most Dangerous Holiday Ever?
It’s funny because as I write this, it sure sounds like it!
Chanukah is my favourite holiday. It’s about having all the family together, each lighting their own menorah and creating one beautiful display, then reciting the prayers and singing the songs. Plus I love candles!
Safety Tips
It’s not difficult to keep pets safe on Chanukah, but you have to be vigilant. Here are some options…
Keep an eagle eye on your dog (and all pets) while lighting the candles and until they have completely burned out
Close the door and keep everyone out, although that is a shame because they’re so beautiful to look at
Place a baby gate or barrier across the door so your dog has to stay on the other side
Games of Dreidel, eating and opening gifts can be done on the table, out of reach of your dog. When finished put everything away, or make sure the chairs are under the table so your dog can’t reach.
Personally I keep the dogs with us so we can all celebrate together, but I do keep a very close eye on what they and everyone else are doing.
Happy Chanukah everyone!!
I’ve been rescuing and caring for senior dogs since 2009. From vision and hearing loss to obesity, dementia, kidney disease, liver issues, cardiac problems, Cushing’s, mobility challenges and more, you could say I’ve dealt with and learned a lot! In addition to my hands on experience, I’ve taken many courses and earned several qualifications to keep learning how to help senior dogs and they include: Senior Dog Enrichment, Understanding Canine Anxiety, Care of the Senior Pet and I’m a Certified Pet Loss Specialist.