Time to read: 6 mins
As the Festive Season nears and celebrations begin there are some considerations we can take for our pet’s care. Whilst we love to indulge in delicious festive foods, there are many that our pets should avoid to ensure they stay happy and healthy.
Starters and Mains
Onions, garlic, leeks and chives
They’re tasty! But they can cause serious blood problems if pets eat even the smallest bit of them. These can be obviously seen in a meal, but they can also be hiding in soups, sauces, stuffing, accompaniments, pickles, preserves or savoury crackers.
Spices
These can cause an excess of gas in your pets’ stomach. This can be dangerous in large breed dogs.
Turkey skin, gravy, ham and pork products
Like all fatty foods these can be difficult for pets to digest. It could also cause pancreatitis. This is the inflammation of the pancreas and is a painful condition that occurs in both dogs and cats.
Leftovers
There will most likely be leftovers after the meal. These should be tossed away in a secure bin that is pooch-proof. This is especially true for carcasses. Poultry bones can be sharp. They can cause vomiting and serious internal damage to your pet if they obstruct or puncture the stomach or guts.
Snacks and Sides
Raisins, sultanas, grapes and currants
While they might be small, they can cause serious damage. Just one of these little fruits could potentially put your pet into kidney failure. At Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year these dried fruits can be found in many accompaniments to our meals.
Lactose
Some of our pets may be lactose intolerant. If they are, they cannot eat mashed potatoes with milk or butter. If they do they could end up with diarrhoea, vomiting or even pancreatitis due to the fat content.
Fresh bread
If you’re whipping up a batch of fresh home baked bread (yum!), make sure the dough is protected so your pets do not get any of the uncooked yeasted dough. This can cause a very serious condition called bloat or a twisted stomach.
Desserts
These sweet treats may be delicious, but they can be very dangerous to our pets.
Chocolate
The chocolate should be kept for humans only as it’s poisonous to dogs and cats.
Xylitol
Some sugar free candy and baked goods contain a sweetener called xylitol which is also toxic.
Macadamia nuts
Macadamia nuts can be hiding in all sorts of desserts. They can make your dog vomit, become weak, give them diarrhoea and even cause pancreatitis due to their high fat content. Not only that but they’re a choking hazard for smaller breeds too.
And let’s not forget decorations and wrapping!
Be careful to clean up all the wrappers and small plastics that may be left from food, presents, decorations or the inside of Christmas crackers. Pets that eat wrappers and packaging to get to the tempting food inside, could develop a serious blockage internally. They might even need emergency surgery to get it removed.
We hope you find our tips helpful. Enjoy a happy and safe celebration! If you have any questions about your pets during this time be sure to call our Scratch & Patch Careline and they will be able to answer any questions you may have.
