Dear Dr. John,

With the holidays fast approaching, can you share some advice on what gifts might be appropriate for our year-old dog? Our mutt came from the shelter as we wanted to give a needy puppy a new home. Our dog has been an absolute joy for our family, so we want to show her our appreciation for the happiness she gives us! Are food treats the best thing or would toys be a better bet? I have heard that we also need to be careful about certain decorations such as tinsel and the like. Looking forward to your thoughts. D.M.

Dear D.M.,

Thanks for asking these questions since every few years I try to enlighten people about facts about pets and the holidays. Also, I applaud you for giving a shelter puppy a home last year. Not knowing if your dog is small or large or has short or long hair, I would start with possibly buying her a coat or sweater for those very cold days like a few we have recently experienced. Another choice might be a cozy warm bed for her to lie in or a pillow to curl up with unless she already has one.

There are many toys available for dogs to play with. Balls are always popular. However, hands down the best gift you can give your dog is your time. As a gift to her and yourselves, commit to spending more time playing with her and taking her for walks. As for treats, there are so many that you can consider and I leave the purchasing of which ones up to you. Remember to avoid chocolate goods, anything with a sugar substitute known as xylitol, and fatty table scraps after a holiday meal.

As you suggest, decorations can become a hazard. Holiday plants such as holly and lilies can pose a problem if ingested. Make sure that the dog doesn’t get into tinsel or ornaments thinking they might be balls to play with. Ingesting the wrong foods or decorations can lead to an ER visit and that’s not the kind of present you want for your dog or yourselves. Thanks for your question and Happy Holidays!

Dr. John de Jong is President of the World Veterinary Association. He owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic and can be reached at 781-899-9994.