What Food Can You Share With Your Dog This Christmas?
Many of us feel we deserve a little treat or two at this time of year, and like to include our furry members of the family in the celebrations too. Whilst not exhaustive, the following aims to point out a few safe options, as well as highlighting the dangers of other foodstuffs which are not at all good for your dog.
Is Turkey a good Christmas dog food?
This is generally well tolerated by dogs provided the skin and bones are removed, as the fat content of the skin is rather high and can cause digestive upsets, and the bones can cause damage inside the dog’s guts if eaten.
Is Salmon a good Christmas dog food?
The same applies to salmon, but try to avoid smoked salmon as it tends to be higher in fat than poached fillets.
Is Lamb a good Christmas dog food?
Again ensure all bones and skin are removed. Dogs are unable to digest lamb bones, and if ingested, frequently lead to potentially dangerous blockages in your dog’s intestines, so must be avoided at all costs.
Is Gravy a good Christmas dog food?
Try and avoid “human gravy” as the salt content is often too high for dogs, and fat from fresh stock may be added to it, again causing sickness and diarrhoea in dogs. Instead, use the gravy from tinned dog food, if you feel a “sauce” is necessary!!
Are vegetables a good Christmas dog food?
Many types of cooked veg can be safely fed to your dogs - examples include peas, green beans, mashed potato, carrots, swede, sweet potatoes and even sprouts! In fact, this may be a subtle way of getting rid of unwanted sprouts!! Just make sure the quantities aren’t stupidly big as this will also lead to digestive upsets.
Are eggs a good Christmas dog food?
High in vitamin B complex vitamins and minerals, eggs can be safely fed to your dog if they are boiled/poached in water or scrambled. Avoid fried eggs as the fat content of them will be too high.
Is Brown Rice a good Christmas dog food?
Often advised to help a dog recover from a tummy upset, cooked wholegrain rice can be safely added to your dog’s Christmas dinner- helping to bulk the meal up, and fill your dog’s tummy in the process.
What food should you avoid feeding your dog at Christmas?
The following is a list of typical Christmas foods which should be avoided in your dog's diet, and the reasons why that is the case:
Should you avoid feeding your dog Chocolate at Christmas?
Chocolate is poisonous to dogs due to the chemical theobromine it contains, as well as caffeine. The darker and more bitter the chocolate is, the higher the content of theobromine, and the more dangerous it is to dogs.
Signs of ingestion depend upon the type of chocolate eaten and the amount. For many dogs, the most common clinical signs are vomiting, diarrhoea, increased thirst, restlessness/panting and a racing heart rate, but can include tremors, seizures and heart failure. It is essential that you contact your vet immediately for advice if you think your dog has ingested chocolate.
Should you avoid feeding your dog Nuts at Christmas?
Traditionally, bowls of nuts are put out at this time of year, but many of them are very toxic to our pets, such as macadamia nuts, raw cashews and pistachios. Not only can they cause digestive upsets and neurological signs such as seizures, but their size means they provide a choking hazard, and can also easily cause blockages in the animal’s intestines, requiring emergency surgery to remove them. For this reason, keep your festive snacks away from where your pets may be able to get to them.
Should you avoid feeding your dog stuffing at Christmas?
Tasty stuffing often contains herbs, leeks and onions - and whilst various herbs and spices may only cause your dog a mild tummy upset, the onions and leeks are highly poisonous to dogs due to the fact they contain a compound called N-propyl disulphide which can cause the breakdown and eventual destruction of red blood cells, leading to anaemia, and this may be fatal in some cases.
Should you avoid feeding your dog Christmas pudding and mince pies at Christmas?
Whilst the odd single grape, or sultana/currant/raisin (the dried versions of grapes) may not be harmful to a dog, larger numbers can be toxic and lead to kidney failure, although some dogs seem more susceptible than others, and the reason for this is unknown. For this reason, if you suspect that your dog has eaten some dried fruit, it is crucial to contact your veterinary surgeon right away for some advice.
Should you avoid feeding your dog Cranberry sauce at Christmas?
Often used as a condiment with the turkey, Cranberry sauce is delicious but is to be avoided in your dog. This is due to the fact that sweeteners such as xylitol are often added and this is poisonous for dogs: even small amounts can prove fatal.
Alcohol - Dogs cannot metabolise alcohol, so beverages, and food containing alcohol should not be given to dogs. It causes lethargy, trouble breathing and dangerously low body temperatures, and can even lead to tremors, coma and death. For this reason, contact your vet immediately if you think your dog may have consumed alcohol.
Take home message from Dr Rachel Keane:
There are many “treats” that may be safely added to your dog’s meals over Christmas but remember this is a temporary change of diet for them, and any sudden changes in diet may cause gastric upsets such as vomiting or diarrhoea. For this reason, a gradual introduction of “novel” ingredients is recommended. Also, bear in mind that the above suggestions may not be suitable for dogs with specific dietary allergies, and if they suffer from conditions such as pancreatitis, it will be far kinder for them to stick to their usual low-fat food, rather than risk a flare-up over Christmas.
Sources
Dog Christmas Dinner: What They Can & Can't Eat | Purina
Christmas Food for Dogs: Do’s and Don’ts for a Safe Holiday (wagwalking.com)
Christmas Dangers for Dogs | Blue Cross
Christmas foods dangerous for dogs | Health | Kennel Club (thekennelclub.org.uk)
Christmas Advice For Dog Owners | Dogs Trust
