Blog - Christmas with your Furbaby

What's dangerous for my dog at Christmas? It’s a little-known fact that Christmas is a more dangerous time for our pets. Their usual home environment is filled with trees, unusual flowers and other decorations and cupboards are jam-packed with lots of tempting but potentially toxic food and drink. At Vets Now, emergency call volumes increase by up to 40% over the festive season, and it’s often a result of dogs swallowing or chewing some of these unfamiliar things. Their handy infographic below gives you the lowdown on what to keep out of your dog’s reach this Christmas — and some interesting statistics that show why. What is Safe for them to get as a special Treat (everything in moderation) Whilst there are many items not safe for our furbabies here are some yummy special treats from your Christmas Meal that your dog can safely eat in moderation. Turkey Your dog can enjoy small amounts of boneless, skinless white meat. Avoid the skin from your Turkey or Chicken as this is very high in fat for your dog. Fat can cause inflammation of the pancreas (Pancreatitis). Cranberry sauce Why not try a little on their turkey, just a small amount and only if it is pure cranberry sauce with nothing else added like sweeteners or other fruits, nuts etc... Potatoes Only give them plain mashed or boiled potatoes with nothing else added (e.g. salt, butter). Again, moderation is important. Potatoes, no matter how they are prepared or cooked are very starchy and some dogs can struggle to digest. Vegetables You do need to be careful only very small amounts but you can feed your furbaby some carrot, parsnip, green beans, courgette, Brussel sprouts, broccoli florets, peas, spinach, cauliflower etc... Most green or mixed veg is fine for dogs. If you do a mashed carrot and swede with your Christmas dinner your dog is sure to love that but don’t add butter or seasoning to their portion. Always avoid corn on the cob and bulb vegetables such as onions and leeks. Eggs As a special Christmas breakfast treat why not cook some scrambles eggs for your furbaby. Eggs are a great source of protein, vitamins and minerals and are good for your dog’s health. If you are worried about the salmonella risk of feeding raw eggs, cook them. Scrambled is a great way to cook eggs for your dog, but don’t add milk, butter or salt of course. Fruit Can be high in sugar and can also be acidic, which can upset your dog's digestion so give in moderation and always remove the pips/stones first. The fruit to avoid is rhubarb. The stalk of the plant and also its leaves are toxic to canines.