You should keep Christmas treats like mince pies, nuts, advent calendar chocolates – and even fatty trimmings from turkey and beef – away from your dog this Christmas, according to the UK’s largest dog welfare charity Dogs Trust. Though it can be tempting to give dogs some of the indulgent treats we enjoy over Christmas, it can be damaging for their health.
The warning comes as home security company, Ring, reveals a Christmas dinner-style treat for dogs that’s completely canine-friendly with guidance from Dogs Trust on how it can be safely enjoyed by our four-legged friends
The ‘Christmas Treataway’ includes a dog-friendly roasted turkey crown, with turkey bone-broth gravy and roasted sweet potatoes. Pooches can also enjoy sides such as pigs-in-blankets, sprouts and carrots and a dog-safe Yorkshire Paw-ding. For dessert, dogs can enjoy their very own canine-safe Christmas pie, accompanied by a ‘Dogg-egg-nogg’.
The Christmas Dinner-style treats are being given to carers in the Dogs Trust Home from Home foster network who are helping take care of a foster dog this festive season. Ring is helping encourage people to foster a dog for the charity, as there are currently over 1,600 dogs in need of a forever home.
Each Christmas Treataway comes with a free Ring Indoor Camera to help carers keep an eye on their dog when they’ve briefly nipped out of the house .
Ten foods you should keep away from your dog this Christmas
Grapes, raisins, sultanas
Toxic to dogs, even in small amounts, potentially causing kidney failure
Chocolate
Contains Theobromine, which is toxic to dogs – best to not leave half opened bars or chocolate coins lying around and storing them out of dogs’ reach, including chocolate Christmas Tree decorations and chocolate advent calendars
Macadamia nuts
Can cause tremors and vomiting
Mince pies and Christmas pudding
Raisins and sultanas mean these are toxic too
Fat trimmings or cooked bones from Christmas meats
Dogs might love the meaty juices from turkey, beef, lamb or duck – but the high fat content can lead to serious issues like pancreatitis, while cooked bones can splinter, potentially causing internal injuries or intestinal blockages.
Avocado
The flesh can cause upset stomachs leading to vomiting and diarrhoea, and the peel can be even more toxic. Additionally, the avocado stone is a choking hazard, and can cause intestinal obstruction if swallowed – so it’s best avoided when making those boxing day brunches
Garlic, leeks and onions
Members of the allium family should be avoided as they can cause anaemia – so check the recipes of anything you give your dog to make sure these ingredients aren’t present
Holly berries
If you have a dog, it’s best to make sure your Christmas decorations don’t have berries in and are out of their reach
Alcohol
Needless to say, keep Christmas tipples away from Fido – it can cause severe poisoning
Xylitol
An artificial sweetener, present in some treats like peppermints. This ingredient is highly toxic and cause life threatening hypoglycaemia and liver failure.
Charlie Matthias, Senior Veterinary Surgeon at Dogs Trust said: “We are a nation of dog lovers, and it may be tempting to give dogs offcuts and leftovers from our Christmas dinner, especially when they give you those puppy dog eyes. But it’s important to play it safe with treats made specially for canine stomachs or you could be facing an emergency Christmas Day trip to the vet. We’re proud to have worked with Ring to have created a Christmas Dinner tasting menu for dogs that looks just like the real thing but is completely canine-friendly.”
To find out more about keeping dogs safe at Christmas, visit the Dogs Trust website.