Christmas is nearly here, and soon we will all be tucking into our Christmas dinners and pulling crackers at the table. However, it is also that time of year when we see a lot of naughty dogs pinching food or other items when their owners are not looking. Sometimes this can lead to an unexpected trip to the vet, so don’t get caught out this Christmas and make sure you reduce the festive hazards for your pets.

As pet owners, some of you will love to give your pets a little Christmas dinner treat, which is fine, but just be careful with what you feed them. Certain foods can be very toxic and harmful to pets, so it’s worth avoiding these as part of a festive treat!

Rawhide and Bones

We have already written a whole other article on this here, but in a nutshell, rawhide and bones can cause obstructions in the stomach, as they are not as easy to break down. Dogs and cats can also choke on small pieces of bone as they can get caught in their oesophagus. Bone ingestion can cause other issues too, so it really is best to avoid this altogether.

Grapes, Raisins and Sultanas

Unfortunately, as vets, we see many more admissions over Christmas after dogs have eaten mince pies, Christmas cake, or Christmas puddings; all of which contain ingredients that are poisonous to dogs. If your dog has eaten any of these foods, a trip to the vet is necessary as quickly as possible after ingestion. Grapes, raisins and sultanas are highly toxic to our furry friends causing vomiting, diarrhoea and, in some cases, acute kidney failure which can prove fatal.

When these toxic foods are ingested, we will need to induce vomiting then give activated charcoal orally to help prevent further absorption in the stomach. We will then monitor your dog’s bloods and possibly provide intravenous fluids to help give your pet the best chance of survival. Even if your dog seems fine at the time, these poisons can affect the kidneys and in a few days this can cause fatal kidney failure.

Macadamia nuts

Macadamia nuts are also a festive treat for humans, but these can also cause dogs to suffer. Usual symptoms include weakness in the hind legs, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors and fever; and although this type of poisoning is not usually life threatening it is still very unpleasant.

Chocolate

Finally, chocolate is almost synonymous with Christmas for us humans. From chocolate advent calendars to chocolates hidden away in wrapping paper under the tree, dogs will be the first to find it! However, as most of us know, chocolate is toxic to pets because it contains a chemical called theobromine, as well as caffeine.

Unfortunately, dogs cannot metabolize theobromine and caffeine as efficiently as people can. The amount of toxic theobromine varies with the type of chocolate. The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is to dogs. Theobromine can affect the heart and ingestion can cause severe side effects and ultimately, in worst cases, it can be fatal.

Prevention is always better than cure, so please try to avoid your dog gaining access to these toxic festive treats, so you can enjoy a safe Christmas. If you have any concerns or you think your pet has ingested something it shouldn't, please call us at Coquet Vets on 01665 252250.