Christmas Food Guide for your pets
It’s easy to get carried away with the festive excitement and want to treat your pet with a mince pie or some stuffing but please resist the temptation. I think feeding your pet a Christmas dinner is a lovely idea but only with the safest of ingredients. It’s important to remember that your pet’s dietary requirements are not the same as ours and we all have to exercise caution when it comes to treating our pets at Christmas.
What to feed your pet this Christmas
Apples
An apple a day doesn’t necessarily keep the veterinarian away but they are good for dogs as a treat! Full of nutrients and fibre, these are great snacks. Just be sure not to let your pup have the seeds or the core.
Green Peas
Have a couple as training treats or even put some in their bowl. Easy-peasy! Fresh or frozen – peas are great treats!
Carrots
My dog loves carrots. It’s a great way to keep your pet entertained while your wrapping those Christmas presents!! The added benefit is there a minimal calories so very handy for those overweight pets.
Cooked Sweet Potatoes
it’s actually really simple to roast up some extra to share during the week with your pets. It’s best to keep them plain..
Turkey
A great protein source with low salt and fat content!!
Blueberries
Blueberries are very handy Christmas treats. I generally toss them around the floor and allow my dog hoover them up!
What NOT to feed your pet this Christmas
Theobromine is a chemical found in chocolate and it is toxic to dogs. The darker the chocolate and the quantity consumed can have severe consequences for your dog, including seizures and vomiting.
We would advise to avoid leaving chocolate within your dog’s reach and call us at Castle Vets on 014640499 as soon as possible should you need some assistance.
Christmas pudding and mince pies contain grapes, raisins and other vine fruits which can also be toxic to dogs. They can potentially cause kidney issues and failure.
Onions, garlic, leek and chives, cooked or uncooked can cause your pet to have severe vomiting and diarrhoea as well as other issues such as anaemia.
Bones can break and the small fragments ingested can become stuck in your pets digestive system, causing blockages and damage to intestines and other internal organs.
Alcohol, if left unattended, may be a temptation to your pet to consume due to the smell. It can cause staggering, loss of consciousness and low blood sugars.
Poinsettias are a beautiful and popular flower particularly around the holiday season. However when ingested, they can cause irritation of the mouth and stomach, often resulting in hyper-salivation and vomiting.
Holly, mistletoe and Ivy can also all have similar affects.
What to do if your pet eats something it shouldn’t
The main thing is not to panic!
Food won’t be absorbed immediately. If you are concerned please ring us at Castle Vets on 014640499 and we will advise you on the best course of action. What you need to do depends on what and how much your dog’s eaten. Sometimes your pet may have been lucky and not eaten a significant amount of food to cause any issue. If we are concerned we can give your pet medication to induce vomiting thus ensuring they don’t absorb anything harmful.
