From Mince Pies to Leftovers: 7 Festive Foods That You Should Never Feed Your Dog

Whether you like gifting your dog their own wrapped-up presents, dressing them up in a cute festive bow tie or preparing them their own Christmas dinner, if your four-legged friend is having a good time, it really can make the festive period feel perfect.
 

But while we tuck into our delicious turkey dinners and selection boxes, it's important to remind ourselves that not every Christmas treat is designed to be suitable for our dogs.

Pet food company tails.com warns that there are a number of festive dishes that you should not share with your pooch, no matter how eager they are to have a bite. The nutritional experts share advice on what to do if your dog has eaten any of them.

 

1. Chocolate

While selection boxes and assortment trays are fun festive treats for us humans, chocolate is highly toxic for dogs as they are physically incapable of metabolising it. 

Chocolate can cause your dog to experience an increased heart rate and it can also cause unwanted stress on your furry-friends kidneys and nervous system.

If your dog eats even a small amount of chocolate, you should arrange an immediate appointment with your veterinarian, and in the meantime monitor their behaviour very closely for any symptoms or sickness.

 

2. Mince Pies

Mince pies are packed full of dried fruits such as sultanas, raisins, currants and grapes which can be extremely toxic for your dog. Even small amounts of these kinds of fruits can lead to severe kidney failure in your pooch.
 

3. Christmas Pudding

Much like mince pies, Christmas puddings are full of dried fruits that can be toxic for your dog. An added danger of the Christmas staple is that they also often contain alcohol, making this dessert even more harmful for your canine companion. 

It might seem like common sense to most dog owners, but giving your dog alcohol is never ok, and It goes without saying that any food containing spirits, beer or wine, should not be given to your dog either. 

 

4. Long-abandoned Leftovers

We know that our pups love to sniff out forgotten scraps days after Christmas has passed. But when food gets left for too long it can become a breeding ground for mould and bacteria, with bread, meat and dairy products being particularly susceptible.

If you plan on keeping any leftovers, make sure to keep them out of reach from your pet and no longer than 24 hours or the recommended amount of time on the product's packaging.

 

5. Skin and Bones

While it is fine to feed your dog small portions of leftover turkey, it is important to keep your pooch away from the skin and bones of the bird.

Turkeys skin is far too fatty for your pooch and eating greasy foods like this can lead to pancreatic issues and obesity, especially in smaller dogs.

Not only that, but meat bones are a potential choking hazard for your dog and can cause internal damage to their organs, as they are too hard to digest properly.

 

6. Onions, Garlic, Shallots and Leeks

While onions, garlic, shallots and leeks are tasty for us humans on Christmas day, they all belong to the allium plant family, which are poisonous to dogs.

Foods like onions and garlic contain a chemical compound called thiosulfate which can be toxic for dogs as it causes damage to their red blood cells and can result in them becoming anaemic.

 

7. Nuts

Nuts are a popular festive treat, but they can be extremely harmful to your dog as a lot of them are fatty. Even small amounts can cause your pooch to experience diarrhoea, vomiting and weakness in their hind legs, or in the worst-case scenario may even lead to pancreatitis. 

If your dog has consumed a large number of nuts and appears to be showing symptoms, then you are advised to seek veterinary attention as soon as possible.