Christmas dinner for dogs?

Christmas can be an exciting time for all the family, so it’s not surprising that people want to

include their four-legged family members in the festivities. This may include feeding a few

yuletide treats, but be warned, some of our favourite seasonal foods could spoil your dog’s

day very quickly! Common Christmas foods can cause anything from digestive upset to

serious, life-threatening toxicity.

Firstly, there’s absolutely no need to feed your dog anything in addition to their usual,

complete food if it’s not right for them, or you’d prefer to play it safe. For example, those with sensitive stomachs, medical conditions such as pancreatitis, or requiring special food for

nutritional support of a health problem should stick to their usual diet. If in doubt, don’t feel

under pressure to feed anything different– your dog won’t know that they are missing out

and you may help them avoid a poorly timed illness.

If you do decide to feed treats, a small quantity should be given alongside your dog’s usual

food. A completely different Christmas Day diet consisting mostly of human food is a bad

idea.

Here are some common foods your dog might be sniffing out this Christmas:

• Turkey: dogs can eat turkey meat, but it should be boneless and skinless. It’s best to

  avoid any meat that’s soaked in gravy, butter or seasonings and go for plain meat

  instead.

• Bones from the turkey carcass can damage the gastrointestinal tract lining or

  get stuck, for example in the oesophagus (gullet).

• Stuffing: avoid. Often contains onions, garlic and various spices. Plants in the allium

  family, such as onion and garlic can cause anaemia in dogs.

• Gravy: best avoided. Gravy can be high in fat, sodium, and contain ingredients such

  as garlic

• Potatoes: be careful. A small amount of cooked, peeled potato is fine, but the butter

  and cream added to mash or the fat that roast potatoes are cooked in could be a

  problem.

• Dairy products: best avoided. Often high in fat and containing lactose, these

  products can be hard for dogs to digest and lead to stomach upsets and illness.

• Cranberry sauce: be careful. Small amounts of cranberries are fine for dogs, but

  other ingredients in the sauce could be toxic such as sweeteners (xylitol) and nuts. It

  may also have a very high sugar content.

• Macadamia nuts: avoid. Can cause weakness, wobbliness, vomiting, tremors, high

  temperature and central nervous system problems.

• Chocolate: avoid. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine that is highly

  toxic to dogs. The darker the chocolate, the higher the levels of theobromine.

  Chocolate can cause a variety of problems including gastrointestinal upset,

  hyperactivity, tremors, seizures and heart problems. Even chocolate with minimal

  theobromine e.g. white chocolate can cause gastrointestinal problems due to its high

  fat content.

• Christmas pudding and mince pies: avoid. They contain several hazardous

  ingredients, the most worrying being dried grapes (raisins, sultanas, currants).

  Grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs.

• Pigs in blankets: best avoided. High in sodium and fat, it’s a good idea to substitute

  these for some lean meat instead.

• Other vegetables: small amounts of green beans, sprouts, parsnips, peas and

  swede can all be given.

• Dog treats: if you plan on giving treats other than your pet’s usual food, a safe option

  is to purchase some treats designed for dogs, produced by a reputable manufacturer.

If you are concerned about the health of your dog or worried that they may have eaten something toxic, you should contact your vets immediately as prompt treatment may be needed.

It pays to be prepared for stomach upsets over bank holidays. See this post for more

information (Help, My Pet Has Diarrhoea! When To Worry And What To Do) and consider stocking up on any essentials in advance.

PURINA® PRO PLAN FortiFlora®

FortiFlora® is a great-tasting probiotic supplement clinically proven to support the

gastrointestinal health of dogs and cats. It contains Enterococcus faecium SF68, a beneficial

bacterium that helps to maintain a healthy gut microbiome. This can be particularly beneficial during stressful times, such as Christmas, when pets may experience disruptions in their usual diet and routine. Fortiflora® be used for GI disturbances associated with stress,

antibiotic use or diet change.  

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