Many dog owners want their furry friends to join in on the festivities - including letting them enjoy a taste of the Christmas dinner.
But there are many things that we eat that can be harmful to your pets. While you think they may enjoy a scrap of meat or a bit of chocolate giving them certain foods can do more harm than good.
Christmas pudding and mince pies are just some of the scrumptious treats most of us will indulge in over the festive season. While it is the time of giving, it’s important to know which foods can be shared with your pet dog's and which ones are best kept on plates.
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Guiding owners on what treats they can sneak under the table to their beloved pets is Lorna Winter co-founder and head of training at Zigzag. She shared the top seven Christmas treats you shouldn’t be giving your pup and three that they can indulge on.
Christmas treats you shouldn't feed your dog
Raisins and Sultanas
While mince pies are the perfect sweet treat for humans, they contain copious amounts of raisins, grapes and sultanas that if given to your puppy can lead to kidney failure.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a sweetener that is used as an alternative to sugar. It can be found in many foods such as peanut butter, chewing gum and sweets.
Xylitol is popular as it’s a low-calorie version of sugar and fills our needs for something sweet. However, if ingested by your puppy could be fatal. Even in small amounts, Xylitol can cause dogs to go into hypoglycaemia which is linked to liver failure and blood clotting disorders.
Nuts
Nuts are another food to be avoided this Christmas with your puppy. They can cause intestinal irritation for puppies and for some nuts like walnuts this can be deadly.
Other deadly nuts include Macadamia, which include toxins that are life threatening. The toxins in macadamias can affect your dog's muscles and nervous system resulting in weakness, swollen limbs and panting. Make sure to check nut contents on all snacks you give your dog.
Alcohol
Christmas is a time to indulge in both food and drink. As with young children or infants, alcohol should be kept well out of reach of your dog; this includes any foods that also contain alcohol such as Christmas Pudding.
Alcohol can cause serious drowsiness which could lead to your pup losing their balance. It also reduces blood pressure, which in the worst cases can cause seizures and comas.
A human treat that should be kept well out of reach. This includes creamy alcohols which could be mistaken for milk if left in reach of your dog.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is the spice of the festive season and is included in lots of Xmas treats such as Christmas Pudding, apple crumble and eggnog. However, for dogs this can be poisonous and result in seizures. As with anything you give your puppy, it’s vital to ensure you’ve read the ingredients in case this spice has been included.
Chocolate
It’s the time of year you can eat your chocolate treats and not be judged. However, keep any form of chocolate away from your dog.
Chocolate contains theobromine - a very toxic compound which if digested by your puppy can be fatal. Keep it out of reach for your dog, including any chocolate ornaments on Christmas trees or advent calendars.
Leftover meat bones
Turkey is perfectly fine for pups in small amounts, however turkey bones should be kept for the broth or the bin. Turkey bones are very brittle which means if ingested, parts of the bones can splinter and be extremely dangerous for your dog's digestive system.
Bones from other meats such as chicken and red meats should also be avoided. And if you’re using meat on cocktail sticks - definitely keep these away from your pup. They're dangerous not just for their throat, but for their eyes and paws too.
Three Christmas treats your dog can have
Carrots
Cut up into small pieces to avoid choking, raw or cooked plain carrot can be a great, healthy snack for your dog. A safe snack to sneak under the table.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a popular vegetable this side of the year and is included in both sweet and savoury dishes. Canned pumpkin can be safe if given in moderation. With that being said, it's essential to comb through the ingredient list as some canned pumpkin can contain chocolate and Xylitol, both toxic for dogs.
Cheese
If you want to share some of your cheesy delights for your cheese-boards this Christmas, keep the amounts small. Swiss, mozzarella, and cheddar cheese are all safe options, but steer clear of blue cheese, goat cheese, and feta. This is because these cheeses have high levels of saturated fat and lactose which a puppies body cannot digest properly. It’s best to keep these cheeses well out of reach.
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