PSA: don't feed your pets these Christmas foods, some can be fatal

For many people, Christmas is all about the pets. Screw the kids! Who cares about distant family members? Not me! Instead, we’d rather dress up our cats and dogs in hilariously cute Christmas jumpers and stick a pair of reindeer antlers on them. And, be honest, how many of you have spent more on your pets than your siblings?

As we get swept up in this festive spirit, it can sometimes be tempting to treat your animals to a few Christmassy snacks every now and then. But whenever you feel this temptation, YOU MUST RESIST! Experts say certain foods can be deadly to your animals.

These are all the foods you should keep away from your pets this year:

• Mince pies - raisins, currants and sultanas can be fatal to dogs
• Gravy – too fatty and salty
• Stuffing – best avoided due to inclusion of onions, herbs spices
• Turkey skin and bones – skin is too fatty for dogs and bones can easily splinter, making them a dangerous puncture or choking hazard
• Pigs in blankets - too fatty and salty
• Christmas pudding – raisins, currants and sultanas can be fatal to dogs
• Chocolate - contains ‘theobromine’ (bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant), which can be deadly to canines
• Nuts – some nuts are toxic, so best avoided all together
• Onions – poisonous to dogs
• Bread sauce - dogs find digesting lactose difficult
• Christmas cake - raisins, currants and sultanas can be fatal to dogs
• Candy canes – sugar and sweeteners are best avoided

And these are the foods that are safe for your animals (in small amounts):

• Turkey - boneless, skinless white meat
• Cranberry sauce - only pure cranberry sauce with nothing else added
• Potatoes – plain, cooked mashed or boiled potatoes with nothing else added
• Carrots – raw or cooked, but only a small amount
• Peas - most green or mixed veg is fine for dogs
• Sprouts - most green or mixed veg is fine for dogs
• Parsnips – without honey or added herbs and spices

Dr Maeve Moorcroft, head of pets at Pets at Home, said: “A pet’s diet is essential when it comes to their health and wellbeing, but with all the delicious smells and tastes of Christmas it can be tempting to treat your furry friend to some delicious festive treats. 

“Some human foods are OK to feed to your dog, but should be strictly limited to foods from the nice list and served in very small quantities only. We’d recommend treating your pets to some exciting new Christmas toys or treats instead.”

Let’s all agree to keep our pets safe this year and leave the human food to the humans. 

(Images: iStock)