The big no-no’s for your pooches this Christmas:
Chocolate – The chemical theobromine, which is a bit like caffeine, is found in chocolate and is toxic to dogs. Even small amounts can cause agitation, hyperexcitability, tremors, convulsions and problems with the heart.
Christmas pudding, mince pies, grapes, raisins and other dried vine fruits – Grapes and their dried products (currants, sultanas and raisins) are toxic to dogs. Ingestion of even a small quantity can cause severe kidney failure.
Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots – Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives all belong to the Allium species of plants and can cause toxicity, whether uncooked or cooked. Initially there can be vomiting and diarrhoea but the main effect is damage to red blood cells, resulting in anaemia.
Macadamia nuts – Macadamia nuts can cause lethargy, increased body temperature, tremor, lameness and stiffness in dogs.
Leftovers – If there is any food left over at Christmas, be careful to dispose of it well and keep it out of the reach of your four-legged friend. Not only may the food include ingredients toxic to dogs, mould in leftovers (including yoghurt, bread and cheese) can produce toxins that cause rapid onset convulsions in dogs.
So what is safe?
Providing your dog is healthy and is not allergic to the following foods, these are safe to give them a titbit of at Christmas:
- Turkey meat (no skin or bones)
- Salmon (fillets or cooked in spring water are preferable to smoked salmon)
- Lamb meat (no bones)
- Scrambled egg
- Green beans
- Brussel sprouts
- Parsnips
- Carrot
- Peas
- Swede
- Mash potato (best without additional butter)
- New potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Yogurt (but check the ingredients and don’t feed if xylitol is listed as this is toxic to dogs)
Remember, giving your dog lots of new food can cause vomiting and diarrhoea!
Information taken from www.bluecross.org.uk
