Food Dangers at Christmas

With Christmas just a few weeks away, there are certain foods which whilst popular for humans, can be dangerous for dogs.

And so naturally, there is an increased chance of your dog ‘accidentally’ eating something they shouldn’t.

Just in case you weren’t aware of these foods, here’s a list of the most dangerous foods for dogs, particularly around this time of year.

Stuffing

Stuffing can contain onions and/or garlic, whether in powdered or fresh form.

This can kill your dog’s red blood cells and cause anaemia and food poisoning – signs may include weakness, vomiting and trouble breathing.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts contain a toxin that can affect your dog’s muscles and nervous system which can also include swollen limbs and excessive panting.

If ingested, they can cause dogs to experience weakness, depression, tremors, vomiting and increased body temperature.

Cooked Bones

Cooked bones are susceptible to splintering which can perforate the throat and gut, both of which can be fatal.

Be careful when giving them leftovers ensuring that all bones are removed.

Grapes & Raisins

Raisins can cause kidney failure. Just one raisin can be severely toxic for a dog so whether fresh or as an ingredient in a cake, bun, fruit loaf or mince pie, these are very, very dangerous for dogs.

Never give your dog Christmas pudding, Christmas cake or mince pies!

Chocolate

Chocolate can cause vomiting, increased heart rate, agitation and seizures in dogs as it contains theobromine, a stimulant similar to caffeine.

So watch out for advent calendars, chocolate figurines, Christmas tree decorations and chocolate tins and make sure these are kept well out of reach.

Alcohol

Alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, coordination problems, central nervous system depression, tremors, breathing problems, coma and even death!

So never give them alcohol!

Stonefruit

Pits of stone fruits like apricots, cherries, plums and peaches contain a compound called amygdalin.

If ingested, this can break down into hydrogen cyanide!

Raw Hide

Educated pet owners know the dangers of this stuff.

However, friends and family may not be as educated so please tell them if they’re considering spoiling your dog at Christmas to avoid anything that’s raw hide!

You can see our full blog post on this stuff here.

There are plenty of healthy alternatives that will still keep your dog entertained without compromising their health and well-being.

All our grain-free recipes are made from a wide variety of human-grade quality food, sourced from the finest farms and fisheries.

We know that providing dogs with highly nutritious, healthy and great-tasting food will provide them with the best quality of life and sourcing our ingredients directly from our farms and trusted sources provide a guarantee of the highest quality product.

In the meantime, if you have any questions relating to your dog’s diet, or if you would like to discuss how our food could potentially help your dog, please get in touch.