Christmas and Pets

If your dog is healthy and has no allergies to the foods listed, it is ok to feed them a small amount of these foods at Christmas:

• Turkey meat but avoid bones and the skin
• Brussel sprouts
• Parsnips
• Carrots
• Peas
• Green beans
• Swede
• Potatoes (mashed if they do not contain butter)
• Sweet potato

Foods that are poisonous to dogs

• Chocolate – a small amount can cause serious illness. Dark chocolate is the most dangerous and if your dog eats this you should contact your vet immediately.
• Garlic, chives, shallots and leeks are poisonous to dogs even if raw, so if these ingredients are in your gravy, avoid giving the gravy to you dog.
• Mince pies
• Christmas pudding/cake – grapes, currants, raisins and sultanas can cause kidney failure.
• Macadamia nuts
• Sweets – a lot of sweets that are eaten over Christmas contain a sugar free sweetener, xylitol, which is poisonous to dogs.
• Christmas trees such as pine, spruce and fir are not highly toxic to dogs however, the oils they produce and the pine needles that drop on the floor can be a risk causing mild stomach ache or blockage if they are eaten.
• Traditional plants that are toxic to dogs include holly, ivy, mistletoe and poinsettia.

Foods for cats to avoid

• Chocolate – even tiny amounts of theobromine is toxic to cats. It can cause heart problems and kidney failure. Remove any risk; do not use chocolate coins as Christmas tree decorations, keep advent calendars out of reach, put selection boxes up high and avoid leaving wrapped chocolate gifts under the tree. Cats can climb so consider this when finding a place for your sweet treats, a cupboard would be best.
• Christmas cake, pudding and mince which can cause kidney failure in cats.
• Dairy products – most cats are lactose intolerant.
• Stuffing and gravy – these often contain onion which, whether eaten cooked or raw, can give your cat serious digestive upset.
• Sweets – sugar free products, xylitol is often used as an artificial sweetener. This is poisonous for your cat so keep sweet treats well out of reach.

As plenty of people will be letting fireworks off on New Years Eve check out our Shop for a Pet Remedy kit.