Don’t leave your pet out this Christmas. Pets, whether they are cats, dogs or hamsters, are an important part of our lives. Many pet owners take Christmas as an opportunity to spoil their furry friends. This might be in the form of showering them with gifts or delicious treats.
However, when it comes to treats pet owners can easily get carried away over the festive season. Be careful to give them pet approved treats and to stay away from treats that may contain alcohol, chocolate, raisins or other ingredients that can be detrimental to their health.
Make sure your pet gets a good amount of exercise over this period of time, especially when you are feeding them lots of yummy snacks.
Routine
Try to keep food, exercise, bed and toilet break routines the same, as consistency can help pets feel more secure.
If you have guests coming over, let your dog or cat meet people at their own pace.
Give them somewhere cosy and quiet to retreat to, away from all the excitement, where they won’t be disturbed by anyone. Leave toys, blankets and beds there to help them associate the area with positive experiences. For cats, you can also give some hidey-holes to retreat to in case they feel unsure. Try on top of wardrobes or under furniture – even cardboard boxes can make good hiding places.
Although Christmas is a busy time and there’s a lot to do and people to see, be careful about leaving your pet alone for any period which might cause them distress.
If you’re spending Christmas day with friends or family and your dog is coming with you, take something which smells familiar, like their bed, to help them feel secure. Take some of their favourite toys and chews to help keep them entertained. And should you be leaving them at home don’t do so for long periods of time.
Christmas trees and other decorations
Festive food isn’t the only hazard to consider around Christmas time, some household items can also be dangerous. Some plants and flowers, including poinsettias, holly, ivy, mistletoe and lilies, can be toxic, so avoid these if you have pets, or place them in an area where your pets cannot access them.
Tinsel and wrapping paper might be tempting for your pet to play with, but make sure they don’t eat it.
It’ll be best to only allow pets around the tree when they can be supervised, as hanging edible decorations, like chocolate, are poisonous to dogs and can cause severe damage to their health. Cats and dogs might also be tempted to chew or play with hanging tree decorations. Also be aware of Christmas light wires that could be lying around and chewed on.
What Christmas food can pets eat?
Skinless and boneless white meat such as turkey is okay for dogs and cats, but be careful that it’s not covered in fat, salt or gravy. It’s best to keep to your pets eating their appropriate food.
If you want to treat your pet to some festive bites, be sure to feed treats in moderation as extra weight can lead to health problems, nausea or an upset stomach.
Festive food can be poisonous to pets
Festive food is delicious to us, but to our pets much of it is highly toxic and dangerous.
Take a look at the list below to ensure you’re not giving treats that can make your pet unwell:
Chocolate
Mince pies
Christmas pudding
Onion gravy
Alcohol
Bones from carcasses are a dangerous choking hazard.
Choc horror
If you offer dogs a piece of chocolate you won’t need to ask a second time – they’ll gobble it up and soon be back for more. Yet chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which is toxic for pets and can lead to vomiting and seizures. It can even prove fatal, so don’t give in to those big brown eyes.
The bare bones
The aroma of a freshly cooked turkey, chicken or any other food won’t just wet human appetites – cats and dogs will be clamouring for their share too. Beware of giving them the carcass to devour as the tiny bones can splinter and get stuck in the mouth or throat. If bone splinters do make it to the stomach your pet may need surgery. And needless to say, this is a costly procedure just for a little piece of bone.
Fruit and veg
You might think a morsel of Christmas cake or pudding wouldn’t do much harm, but they contain raisins, which cause stomach upsets in pets. If you’re giving your dog a little leftover white meat and vegetables, don’t smother it with gravy. Gravy powders contain onion, which is toxic to pets even in small amounts. Rather opt for a fresh piece of apple, or a bit of banana.
Christmas food for dogs
Although it can be seriously tempting to feed your pet some tasty leftovers, many of the food that are around at Christmas are really rich and fatty. These can make your furry friends very sick. Be careful with leaving food lying around; dogs love to steal the unwrapped Camembert from the kitchen bench, that box of chocolates from underneath the tree or the chicken carcass from the bin.
Want to give your dog something special but healthy on Christmas Day while you’re all at the dinner table? How about a Kong filled with peanut butter, steamed sweet potato or turkey? Not only is it a yummy Christmas-themed treat, but the sweet potato and peanut butter helps everything stick to the inside of the Kong, so it lasts longer. For determined chewers, consider freezing your stuffed Kong. This is a sure way to keep them entertained and busy.
Doggy Christmas stockings
Don’t want your furry family member to feel like they’re missing out at present time? Why not put together a special Christmas stocking for your pet this year. Decorate it with paw prints and their name, and fill it with some special pet-friendly treats and toys.
Make Christmas dog treats
Why not try making some of our tasty, healthy dog treats for your canine companion? I have added a few quick and easy to make recipes at the bottom of this week’s blog. So simply take your pick and enjoy!
Recipe time
Below are some easy pet-friendly pet-approved recipes I have posted in previous blogs. Enjoy!
Blueberry, bacon, pumpkin pupsicles
For these ones your will need a Popsicle mould.
Ingredients
Cooked pumpkin
Fresh blueberries
Fried bacon pieces
Water
Rawhide sticks
Method
Combine the pumpkin, bacon and water in the blender. Blend until smooth, some bacon bit deliciousness is okay too.
Put three to four whole blueberries at the bottom of each Popsicle mould.
Pour the mixture on top of the blueberries and tap the moulds lightly on the counter to remove any bubbles.
Place one rawhide stick in each mould. If the sticks won’t stand up, put the mixture in the freezer for a short time to firm the mixture, and then add the sticks.
Then simply pop them into the freezer for a couple of hours and pups your uncle!
Simply fresh pupsicles
For these ones your will need a Popsicle mould.
Ingredients
Watermelon
Raspberries
Natural Greek yoghurt
Rawhide sticks
Method
Put a few seeded, peeled chunks of watermelon, a handful of raspberries and two or three tablespoons of yoghurt into a small bowl.
Blend them by hand with a fork to make a pink mix with a few small pieces of fruit for texture. Alternatively, use a blender to make a smoothie, or smoother mix if you prefer.
Pour the mixture into the Popsicle mould.
Place one rawhide stick in each mould. If the sticks won’t stand up, put the mixture in the freezer for a short time to firm the mixture, and then add the sticks.
Then simply pop them into the freezer for a couple of hours and serve poolside.
You can also substitute the watermelon and raspberries with apples and grated carrots, or even banana.
Frozen pumpkin treats
Ingredients
Pumpkin puree
Plain yoghurt
½ cup peanut butter
Method
Blend all three ingredients until smooth.
Spoon the mixture into ice cube trays.
Freeze for 12 hours.
Pop them out and place them into your dog’s bowl for a tasty cooling treat.
And then for the baker in you, here are a few incredibly simple dog biscuit recipes.
Pumpkin carrot bites
Ingredients
¾ cup pureed pumpkin
1 egg, slightly beaten
¼ cup shredded carrots
1 cup whole wheat flour
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C.
Stir pumpkin, egg, carrots and flour in a large bowl until moist.
Roll the batter into small balls and place on a baking sheet.
Bake for 30-35 minutes.
Let them cool down and serve.
Store these treats in your refrigerator for a longer shelf life.
Ginger and apple dog biscuits
Ingredients
1 cup brown rice flour
½ cup apple, finely diced
2/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
½ tsp fresh ginger (finely minced) or 1 tsp ground ginger
1 tablespoon coconut oil
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C.
Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Stir together until well combined. If necessary, thoroughly mix together with hands.
Turn mixture out onto a floured, flat surface and roll out with a rolling pin to approximately 2cm.
Cut into desired shapes and place on a baking sheet coated with non-stick spray.
Bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown.
Let them cool down and serve.
Beefy biscuits
Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup oats
½ cup flaxseed (The omega 3 fatty acids in the flaxseed are better absorbed when ground first. While you can leave the flaxseed whole, the health benefits are much better when you take the time to grind the seeds.)
½ to 1 cups beef broth
¼ cup peanut butter
Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C.
In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, oats and flaxseed.
Mix in ½ cup beef broth and peanut butter.
Mix well, adding additional beef broth if necessary to bring the mixture together to a thick dough.
Form into a ball and turn out on a lightly floured surface.
Roll to about 2cm thickness and cut out in desired shape.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown, flipping halfway.
Let them cool down and feed to your eager woof.
That’s it for this week from me, Vinkel and Koljander.
Have a merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! Paw five!
And a double woof! May all your Christmas dreams come true.
