Pets at Christmas – what your dog can and can’t eat
It’s Christmas! And your furry friends are more than welcome to join in the festive fun, but not all foods are safe.
Most pet owners like to get their pets Christmas presents – new dog toys, Christmas jumpers and doggy treats are part of your pooches’ Christmas gifts but families need to be on high alert about what human foods dogs can and can’t have.
It may be tempting to sneak a treat for your doggy under the table, but it is essential to remember that dogs can have adverse reactions to many human foods.
Dogs Trust has released information on all the foods your dog can and can’t have.
Safe foods for dogs
- Carrots, parsnips, sweet potato or peppers – these are all good raw, steamed or baked.
- Apples, pears or melon – great for dogs raw or frozen, without their pips (or melon rinds).
- Cooked turkey, chicken or salmon – fine in small amounts only, no bones or skin.
- Peanut butter (xylitol free) or frozen banana – these make a distracting tasty treat, especially in a long-lasting dispenser.
Unsafe foods for dogs
- Rich, fatty foods – roasted meat, sausages, gravy or anything with cream in can cause an upset stomach.
- Meat bones – turkey legs or cooked ham bones can splinter or cause gastro-intestinal issues.
- Vegetables like onions, leeks, shallots and fruit such as grapes, raisins
- Crisps or crackers – fatty and salty, these are not good for dogs.
- Alcohol, mulled wine and hot chocolate.
When to visit the vet
If your dog accidentally ingests any of the following, a trip to the vet is a must.
- Chocolate
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Macadamia nuts
- Alcohol
- Christmas pudding, cakes, mince pies
- Holly and mistletoe
- Onions, leeks, garlic, shallots, chives
Dogs Trust also released some handy tips for dog owners if you are having guests to you house over Christmas.
‘It’s important to stick to your daily routine of mealtimes and exercise as much as possible,’ the organisation says.
‘If you’ve kept to your normal routine, then chances are your dog will be nice and relaxed by the time they arrive.
‘If children are coming who aren’t used to being around dogs (or your dog isn’t used to children), have a chat with the family beforehand to make sure the children understand how to behave around dogs.’
