Homemade Salt Dough Ornaments Are Toxic to Dogs

It’s that time of the year again when we start seeing super cute tutorials for making salt dough ornaments for the tree. Children love to make them, they’re very inexpensive, and they provide a great way to preserve a memory, whether that’s a dog’s paw print or a child’s hand print.

There’s only one problem: that salt dough is toxic to dogs.

Made with only salt, flour, and water, the dough ornaments can be poisonous if eaten by a dog, even once the ornament is dried and hung on the tree. Salt toxicity is a real risk with salt dough due to the high salt content. We had several salt dough ornaments of our own that we bought in Ecuador when we were there on assignment years ago (above). We no longer use them on the tree because we learned that salt dough–including most homemade play dough–is extremely toxic to dogs with potentially life-threatening toxicity.

Instead of salt dough, consider clay kits to preserve your dog’s paw print! These are also extremely easy to use. Kits like Pet Paw Print Kit (on Amazon)* are an easy way to create a long-lasting ornament without the danger of salt dough! Other alternatives are to make ornaments using archival paper with an inked impression of your dog’s paw, or outline your dog’s paw with an embroidered ornament.

You may be interested in reading: Loss of a Beloved Pet After Ingesting Christmas Ornament Made Out of Salt Dough

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Loss of a Beloved Pet After Ingesting Christmas Ornament Made Out of Salt Dough

Lexi, a 2-1/2-old dog, snuck downstairs Tuesday morning and ate an ornament made out of salt dough. Her owners, couple Larry and Hope Pospisil, made the ornament with their daughter, Alice, for the holidays.

It appears the salt content in the ornament is what made Lexi so sick. It is toxic to cats and dogs, according to the Pet Poison Helpline.

In a Facebook post, Hope Pospisil said,"when we got home around 5 P.M., she peed [in] her kennel and was shaking uncontrollably. She couldn't even make it back up the stairs, as she fell backwards. We immediately took her to the vet and we had only two options because her body temp was 107 and already caused neurological damage." In his own post, her husband, Larry, added that Lexi "was constantly seizing in her kennel and urinating and foaming at the mouth."

The family made the difficult decision to have Lexi humanely euthanized.

Hope Pospisil shared the devastating news "as a warning to everyone." Following the post, the family has received an outpouring of support. In response, Hope said,“I'm so happy that Lexi is being a voice for all other dogs that could have had the same outcome.”

With tear filled eyes, I'm writing this as a warning to everyone. Lexi snuck downstairs today around 7-8am and ate Alice's salt dough ornament(she NEVER does this). We were, of course, so mad at her. She seemed to act normal. We left here at 1pm, thinking she was ok. When we got home around 5pm, she had peed all through her kennel and was shaking uncontrollably. She couldn't even make it back up the stairs, as she fell backwards. We immediately took her to the Vets & we had only 2 options because her body temp was 107 and already caused neurological damage. We could either take her to A-Vets & possibly,if she even made it that far, save her but be a completely different dog or put her to sleep. With heavy hearts, we decided to put her to sleep. We are so heartbroken for not only her but for Alice because Alice & Lexi LOVED each other and she was the best dog anyone could ask for. So please, if you make these ornaments, watch your animals around them. This is not something we ever thought we would have to do to our 2.5 year old dog. 😔 Rest in Peace sweet Lexi girl. We miss you so much.

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