Foods Your Dog Shouldn’t Eat This Christmas, and Treats They Will Love!
Christmas is right around the corner, and while we start treating ourselves to our favourite festive goodies, we need to make sure we're keeping our pets as safe as possible.
We've teamed up with Pet Nutritionist and Wilsons Ambassador, Chloe Fuller, to give us her top tips on what your dog should avoid eating this December.
Christmas is one of our favourite times of the year, but it’s also an expensive one if your dog eats something they shouldn’t! With the average emergency vet visit being £253, you’ll be keen to avoid going there this festive season.
But with our dogs being part of the family more than ever, including them in festivities goes without saying - and in doing so, the risk of them snaffling something they shouldn’t grows.
My dogs are very much part of the family, and my elderly relatives love nothing more than to treat them to little table titbits. That means I have to monitor what they’re sneaking under the table closely! No matter how much your dog begs, this is a time to be extra mindful of what we give them. Many festive foods can be dangerous or even fatal for our beloved companions.
As a Pet Nutritionist, here are my top recommendations on foods that you need to avoid for your dog this Christmas;
Christmas Dinner
We cover our Christmas Dinner with lashings of gravy, which often contains high levels of salt and onion or onion powder - all dangerous to dogs.
The crispy skin on your turkey is prime target for causing pancreatitis, and your lovely stuffing is full of onions too!
It’s best to avoid feeding your dog any of your Christmas Dinner, and instead stick with a dog-friendly Christmas Dinner.
Cooked Bones
Let’s face it, a Christmas Turkey isn’t cheap! And none of us want to see it go to waste. But once you’ve finished carving your turkey, don’t be tempted to give the remaining bones to your dog.
Once cooked, they become sharp and brittle, making them more prone to splintering, which can puncture your dog’s stomach when eaten. Keep the turkey carcass in the oven, well out of reach!
Christmas Pudding & Mince Pies
This is a key food to avoid your dog snaffling this Christmas.
Currants, grapes, raisins, and sultanas are some of the ultimate toxic foods for dogs, who cannot metabolise one of the substances they contain. This causes kidney damage and may lead to Canine Kidney Failure.
If you suspect your dog has had any, they must go to the vet immediately.
Chocolate
Chocolate is everywhere at Christmas!
Whether it’s your advent calendar in the kitchen, selection boxes under the tree, the little wrapped Santas you hang on your tree, or After Eights on the table - it seems unavoidable! But our favourite sweet treat contains a compound called theobromine, which is toxic to dogs.
The darker the chocolate i.e. 70%+ the more harmful it is! I would always recommend calling the Animal Poison Line service if you believe your dog has consumed Chocolate. They’re able to calculate how much your dog can safely have and whether you need to rush to the vets.
Nuts
Some types of nuts, such as Macadamia Nuts, are toxic to dogs, while others, with their high fat content and poor digestibility, can lead to pancreatitis. For some breeds of dog, their size and texture mean they can be swallowed whole, becoming a choking hazard. Ensure to keep bowls of nuts out of reach!
Candy Canes
These sweet little Christmas tree decorations could be one of the most dangerous things for your dog to consume on this entire list! Most sweets or candy on the market contain artificial sweeteners in some form, which are highly toxic to dogs. They may also be labelled as Xylitol or Birch Sugar. Even tiny amounts are an immediate vet trip without hesitation.
Rawhide
It terrifies me when I see this included in pet Christmas gifts in supermarkets! Rawhide is something I will never feed my dogs. Not only is it highly processed and poorly traceable, but it’s also poorly digestible and has led to multiple intestinal blockages in dogs. Instead, I would always opt for a natural treat to chew, we love Wilsons Beef Tripe and Beef Liver treats, 100% natural, full of protein, low in fat and a great way to keep the dogs busy whilst we unwrap presents.
Alcohol
Of course, none of us set out to feed our dogs alcohol intentionally! But it’s important to be mindful of where we leave glasses full of our favourite tipple and whether it’s within reach of our dogs! Dogs don’t have the ability to metabolise alcohol properly, and so even small amounts can lead to alcohol poisoning.
Blue Cheese
This is one I never see talked about! For starters, lots of dogs are lactose intolerant so avoiding dairy unless you know your dog can tolerate it tends to be the most sensible option. But even if your dog can tolerate dairy, any mouldy cheeses should be avoided! The fungus used to create them creates a substance known as Roquefortine C, which dogs in particular, are highly sensitive to, with symptoms of neurotoxicity appearing within 15 minutes of digestion.
Seasons Treatings!
The list above doesn’t mean you should avoid feeding your dog all human foods but be cautious about what you share. Sharing food is communal and a bonding activity, so it’s understandable to want to include your dog in the festive feast, too!
The best way to do this is to feed them high-quality natural dog food like Wilsons, designed specifically for their needs and packed full of consciously picked ingredients to keep them fit and well. This Christmas, Ted will be having Wilsons tasty Cold Pressed Venison & Trout, packed with veg, herbs, vitamins and minerals, and Cinnabar will devour Wilsons Turkey Dinner Premium Complete Raw.
When it comes to treat time, I’d recommend sticking with dog treats. I can’t get over how cute the Wilsons special festive treats are, as always 100% natural! The fact that my dogs can get a little taste of Mince Pie safely, makes me smile! I’m sure they’ll come in handy on Christmas Day too, when I need to give my elderly relatives something they can actually give the dogs. Make sure you check out the whole range of tasty goodies at Wilsons, to see what could make your four-legged friend’s Christmas extra special.
Happy Christmas
Chloe, Ted & Cinnabar x
