From chocolate to mince pies there are some festive foods that your furry friend should be kept well away from
With the Christmas chocolates already doing the rounds, a study has revealed that dogs are 75 per cent more likely to need veterinary care for ingesting harmful foods at this time of year.
Filled with indulgent treats, the festive period can pose a serious threat to pets who may be curious about what’s left on the table or chucked away in the bin. With this in mind, experts are urging pet owners to be vigilant about which foods are accessible to their pets as we enjoy treating ourselves.
According to the team at Digital Agency, certain Christmas foods can cause significant health issues if they are accidentally consumed by your four-legged friend.
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To help keep your best friends safe this Christmas, here is a list of five foods you should keep away from pets, as well as tips for ensuring a safe holiday for your fur babies.
1. Chocolate advent calendars
Everyone loves an advent calendar, especially those filled with chocolate and other edibles. To ensure you dog doesn’t take a fancy to your daily deliciousness, pet specialists suggest keeping them up high, out of reach from furry friends.
The common holiday treat but can be dangerous to pets due to the theobromine in chocolate.
Theobromine is a stimulant that affects a dog’s central nervous system and heart. Toxicity levels range between the different types of chocolates; dark is the most dangerous, followed by milk and white.
If either is ingested you should contact a vet immediately. Experts recommend keeping the packaging, so you can report exactly what they’ve eaten and how much.
If they accidentally swallow any chocolate, owners can quickly access tailored information using a chocolate toxicity calculator to determine how urgent the case is.
Of course, chocolate Santa’s, baubles, selection packs and those bumper boxes we all like to crack into on Christmas day are also dangerous to our dogs. Keep your treats well out of reach so you can enjoy them without worrying about any pet-based problems.
2. Mince pies
Mince pies are a festive favourite, but their raisins, currants, and sultanas are highly toxic to dogs. Tartaric acid in these fruits can cause acute kidney failure, while their sugar and fat content may lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, and other digestive issues.
If your dog consumes a mince pie, contact your vet immediately. Provide details of how much they consumed, and don’t forget to mention if they may have ingested any foil packaging.
3. Onions and garlic
Whether it’s the caramelised onion chutney or garlic potatoes on the table, dogs and cats should be kept far away from any vegetables in the allium species. This also includes shallot, leek and spring onion.
No matter if they’re cooked or raw, the vegetables still pose a threat to pets. The poisoning tends to cause vomiting, abdominal pain and nausea – they’re all signs to look out for.
4. Gravy
Although it seems like a treat your dogs would love, store-bought gravy is a no-no for furry friends. The high amounts of sodium and fat found in gravy can be dangerous and cause toxicity, resulting in the usual symptoms, decreased appetite, excessive thirst and lethargy.
Additionally, they may contain garlic or onion which should be avoided as explained above.
5. Christmas puddings
Similar to mince pies, the raisins inside a Christmas pudding can be dangerous for pets. Even more so because they often include alcohol can cause more problems for pets.
Alcohol poisoning in dogs can lead to coordination issues, vomiting, breathing problems and much more. Pets have a lower tolerance to alcohol than humans, so although the initial symptoms might seem manageable, they can quickly progress to more serious issues including seizures.
If your pet consumes any alcohol, consult your vet as soon as possible.
Not all is lost for hungry pets however, as they can still enjoy Christmas dinner with the family. Boneless turkey will always go down a treat, alongside a homemade gravy with meat juices and plain boiled carrots or parsnips.
Expert tips for keeping your pets safe this festive season
- Check ingredients – always review the ingredients of holiday treats before giving them to your pets.
- Keep food out of reach – store festive foods safely away to prevent accidental ingestion.
- Have emergency contacts ready – keep vet contact details handy, including clinics open on Christmas Day.
- Inform guests – ensure visitors know which foods are safe and unsafe for your pets.
- Secure your bins – keep rubbish bins tightly closed and inaccessible to pets.
- Recognise symptoms – learn the signs of toxicity, such as vomiting or seizures, and know how to respond.
