If you’re having a gathering of family or friends this Christmas, there will be tasty food galore, much of it within reach of a keen canine. It’s easy to forget when you’re in a festive mood. One year, my parents put chocolate baubles on the tree for me. I came downstairs early Christmas morning to find our Great Dane had eaten them all. She looked the picture of innocence, but her poops contained sparkly silver paper for days.
The shortlist to avoid
Fruit cake, Christmas pudding, mince pies. If I was a dog, this would break my heart. But anything containing sultanas, raisins and currants must be avoided. Grapes (and their dried varieties) can cause kidney failure.
Chocolate. Heart-breaking. Who’d be a dog.
Ham and pork. A very small amount is ok, but it doesn’t take a lot to cause big digestive upsets.
Sage-and-onion stuffing. It’s still onion. Still toxic.
Macadamia nuts. Found in stuffings, biscuits, and crusts. They affect the nervous system, and can cause respiratory distress.
Fatty foods. Too much leads to digestive upsets and vomiting. I’ll try to remember that for myself.
Leftovers unrefrigerated or kept too long. Bacteria and/or mould = food poisoning. For both dogs and people.
Cooked bones. Because they splinter. Sharp pieces of bone could perforate anywhere along your dog’s digestive system. Very dangerous, painful and expensive.
We hope these tips help avoid vet visits during the festive season. Here’s wishing you all a happy, healthy, Christmas!
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