Christmas is a wonderful time of year, often shared with our family, friends, and of course our pets! But sometimes Christmas can become a bit overwhelming for our dogs and cats, and there can be hidden dangers. Here we discuss valuable information on food (a central part of Christmas celebrations!) and our festive top tips.
Food Glorious Food
Chocolate
Chocolate is everywhere at Christmas time. In advent calendars, selection boxes, gift bags and so much more. However, chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats due to the theobromine content, which is particularly potent in darker chocolate. Unlike us, our pets cannot metabolise this, therefore it builds up and leads to toxicity. Why not offer your pet some tasty meaty bites instead?
Onions
Lots of our hearty winter meals include onions, however we should be careful that our dogs and cats do not consume food containing onions. They are part of the allium plant group, which are toxic and can cause severe gastrointestinal illness.
Raisins and Sultanas
Many of our traditional festive treats contain dried fruits, these include mince pies, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding, meaning they are dangerous for our pets to eat.
Cooked Bones
Never feed your dog cooked bones. Cooking alters their composition, making them brittle and likely to splinter, which can cause dangerous perforations along the gastrointestinal tract. Only raw bones should be fed. See our helpful guide on feeding raw bones.
Cooked Fat
Fat is extremely tasty to dogs and cats, but we suggest avoiding giving them cooked fat. Although it can be tempting to give them those leftovers, cooked fat can cause inflammation. This could be a precursor to acute pancreatitis, which is commonly seen by vets over the festive period.
Gravy
Although not toxic, our gravy is often too high in salt and seasoning for our pets, which can upset their stomachs. Instead, why not warm some pet-safe bone broth to drizzle over their dinner. It packs a punch not only with flavour, but also with a myriad of health benefits.
Christmas Dinner
Offer your dog their very own festive feast! Our three bird RAW Christmas meal is crafted with care from free range chicken, turkey, and duck, mixed with festive vegetables and enriched with herbs for a natural health boost.
Our Christmas Top Tips
- Don’t change their diet too much – Although of course they deserve some treats (like us all!) over Christmas, be mindful not to overfeed, as this can contribute to obesity.
- Make sure they have a quiet space to retreat to – Whilst some pets adore attention and the chaos associated with visitors at Christmas, others are a little more reserved. Remember, the music, loud chatter and bangs from crackers can cause anxiety in our pets, so we need to do our best to keep them comfortable.
- Keep decorations out of reach – Ribbons, wrapping paper, baubles, tinsel, and tree lights can seem very appealing to dogs and cats. Unsupervised, you may find your dog chewing your lovely Christmas decor, or your cat pulling down your tree!
- Keep an eye on candles. Put them well out of reach of wagging tails and curious cats.
- Offer a raw bone or meaty chew – Raw bones or air-dried chews are a wonderful way to provide physical and mental stimulation. Chewing releases endorphins and can help calm an anxious dog during this busier time of year.
- Be wary of presents under the tree – Dogs are scavengers, so be wary leaving your dog unsupervised around your Christmas tree if there are presents under it. Their super sense of smell will alert them to any food wrapped under there… and you might find your dog eating it before you can!
- Take your dog out on a lovely winter walk – This gets them out of the house and maintains that routine, helping reduce any stress from the chaos at home.
Lucy James, BSc (Hons) Bioveterinary Science
Take a look at Cotswold RAW’s festive range!