We all love to spoil our pets at Christmas, but there are lots of foods that we would class as “treats” for ourselves that are actually highly toxic for our pet dogs. So, this festive season, make sure you’re clued up on exactly what is safe to give to your Doodle dog as a treat, and which foods they really need to avoid.
Whether you’ve just got a new puppy, or you’ve owned a dog for years, it’s vital that you know which foods could cause an upset stomach or worse. Make sure you keep an eye on any guests over the Christmas period too as lots of people who don’t own dogs won’t know that some things that are ok for us to eat are poisonous for our dogs.
Here are some of the main festive foods that can cause big problems for our beloved dogs.
Chocolate
Chocolate and Christmas just go hand in hand together don’t they? We always have those big tins of Quality Street and Cadbury’s Chocolates to enjoy with our friends and family, and we’ve often got a box of chocolate wrapped up under the tree for somebody too.
But chocolate is extremely toxic for dogs. Theobromine is the main ingredient in chocolate that causes big problems when dogs consume it. High levels of theobromine can cause:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Hyperactivity
- Seizures
- Death
Different types of chocolate have different levels of toxicity:
Dark Chocolate
Out of all the different varieties, dark chocolate is by far the most toxic for dogs. If you think or know that your dog has consumed dark chocolate then you must contact your vet immediately.
Milk Chocolate
Milk chocolate is still toxic to dogs, but they may be ok if they’ve only consumed a small amount. The more they consume, the higher the risk. You should still consult your vet just to make sure your dog is safe.
White Chocolate
White chocolate is the least toxic type of chocolate and it doesn’t contain any theobromine. However, white chocolate is often mixed with other ingredients that may be toxic. Contact your vet for advice and if possible have the packaging to hand so that you can tell them the ingredients.
Christmas Pudding & Mince Pies – anything containing raisins or currants
Many Christmas desserts contain ingredients that can cause kidney failure in dogs. This includes anything that contains grapes, dried vine fruits, sultanas and raisins. Eating Christmas pudding or a mince pie may be a delicious after-dinner treat for humans, but it could be fatal for dogs.
Stuffing – onions, garlic, leeks, shallots & chives
Stuffing often contains toxic foods such as onions so it’s definitely one to avoid. Even stuffing that isn’t labelled as onion stuffing can still contain onion. Make sure any meat you give to your dog over Christmas doesn’t have any traces of stuffing on it.
Pigs in Blankets
Although pork is ok to give to your dog once in a while, pigs in blankets contain far too much fat and salt and can cause a stomach upset.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts can cause various different negative reactions in dogs:
- Increased body temperature
- Lethargy
- Weakness in the back legs
- Body tremors
- Muscle stiffness
Alcohol
It’s not just Christmas foods toxic to dogs that you need to think about. Dogs can suffer from alcohol poisoning from even the smallest amount of alcohol, so make sure you put any glasses and bottles way out of their reach.
Blue Cheese
The fungus used to make blue cheeses contains roquefortine C which is harmful to dogs. Symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Seizures
- High Temperature
Xylitol
Many sweets contain xylitol which is poisonous to dogs. Avoid giving your dog anything that contains xylitol, sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Cooked Bones
Cooked bones can easily splinter and break and if swallowed they can do all kinds of damage internally. Make sure you dispose of any bones once you’ve cooked your meat so that your dog can’t get hold of them. Be sure to mention this to anyone else who may be cooking as they may think they’re giving your dog a treat by giving them a cooked turkey bone.
Gravy
Gravy has a few potential problems for dogs. Some gravy contains onion which we’ve already mentioned is harmful to dogs. But most gravy contains far too much salt and although it may not cause your dog any lasting damage if it’s just a one-off, it’s best not to get into the habit of giving it to them.
Bread Sauce
Most dogs are lactose intolerant, and as bread sauce is made using milk, it’s definitely one to avoid. Dairy products as a whole can cause upset stomachs in dogs.
If you are at all unsure about whether it’s safe for your dog to eat any of your Christmas food, then stick to their own food, it really isn’t worth the risk. If you think your dog has eaten something that may be toxic to them, then seek veterinary advice immediately. Your vet will have an emergency contact number available over the festive period. Usually, if you ring your usual vet’s phone number, there will either be a message telling you who to contact out of hours, or the call will automatically go through to their emergency out-of-hours line.
If you’re aware of any other Christmas foods toxic to dogs that’s been missed here, then drop a comment below and we’ll get this post updated.
