As the festive season approaches, homes are adorned with decorations, and delicious aromas fill the air as families prepare traditional meals. However, amidst the joyous celebrations, it’s crucial to remember that some of the seasonal delights and decorations can pose serious risks to our furry companions—our beloved dogs.
While we indulge in scrumptuous dishes and decorate our homes with festive greenery, it’s important to be aware of the potential hazards to our canine friends. Here are some Christmas foods and seasonal plants that can be harmful to dogs:
- Chocolate: Among the many delectable treats synonymous with Christmas, chocolate is a big no-no for dogs. It contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are toxic to canines and can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, seizures, and even death if ingested in significant amounts.
- Rich, Fatty Foods: These foods can be hard for your pet to digest. Turkey skin, chicken skin, and gravy have a very high-fat content. After ingesting them, your pet may experience vomiting or diarrhea. Rich, fatty foods in your pet’s diet can result in inflaming their pancreas, a vital part of their digestive system.
- Bones: As bones cook, they lose their moisture and become brittle. You may think it natural to feed your dog a bone, but all cooked bones should be avoided. Bones can splinter and become lodged in your pet’s throat or digestive system, causing serious injury. We recommend talking with us about the type of raw bones that are safe for your pets.
- Grapes and Raisins: While seemingly harmless, these fruits, commonly found in Christmas puddings, cakes, and some stuffing recipes, are toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure. Even a small amount can be extremely harmful and should be kept away from pets.
- Onions and Garlic: These aromatic ingredients are often used in savory holiday dishes. However, they contain compounds that can damage a dog’s red blood cells, leading to anemia. Dogs should avoid any foods seasoned with onions or garlic, including gravies and stuffing.
- Xylitol: This artificial sweetener is commonly found in sugar-free treats, candies, and some baked goods. Xylitol ingestion can cause a rapid release of insulin in dogs, leading to a dangerous drop in blood sugar levels, seizures, and liver failure.
- Alcohol: Alcoholic beverages can be appealing to pets due to their smell and taste, but even small amounts can be toxic to dogs, causing intoxication, vomiting, disorientation, and in severe cases, respiratory failure or coma.
- Nuts: Not all nuts are created equal. Some nuts, like peanuts, cashews and hazelnuts are good nuts for your pets. (Just make sure cashews are cooked or roasted.) Other nuts, like almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios and hickory nuts are not good for your pet. There are varying reasons from minor upset stomachs to severe reactions. To stay on the safe side, stick to peanut butter.
- Milk Products: We know the picture of a cute kitten drinking a saucer of milk rings a bell. Unfortunately, it isn’t that cute. Dogs and cats aren’t built like us to break down lactose and, as a result, ingestion can lead to digestive issues. This includes all dairy products. Mostly this will cause acute intestinal distress.
- Yeasty Doughs: Bread?!? Yes. Your pet’s stomach is the perfect environment for bread to rise. So, if your dog accidentally eats unbaked dinner rolls, they will expand in their stomach and cause excessive bloating. Large amounts may even cause rupturing. Also, the unbaked dough is fermented, which results in alcohol being absorbed, which we already know is not good for them.
Apart from foods, certain seasonal plants used for decorations can also pose a threat to dogs:
- Poinsettias: These beautiful plants are often used as decorative accents during the holiday season. While generally considered mildly toxic, they can cause irritation to a dog’s mouth and stomach if ingested, leading to drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Mistletoe and Holly: Both mistletoe and holly are more harmful to dogs than poinsettias. Ingesting these plants can cause severe gastrointestinal upset, difficulty breathing, and, in extreme cases, cardiac issues.
- Christmas Tree: The pine needles from live Christmas trees can cause stomach upset or even puncture the intestines if ingested. Additionally, the water in the tree stand may contain bacteria or chemical additives that are harmful to dogs if consumed.
As responsible pet owners, it’s crucial to ensure that our furry friends are kept safe during the festive season. No matter how much they beg – if they have a premium quality dogfood like TopTail you know that they don’t need anything else so resist the eyes and as far as possible prevent access to harmful foods and plants. Keeping decorations out of reach and being vigilant about potential hazards can help safeguard our dogs’ well-being and ensure a joyful and worry-free holiday season for both humans and their beloved fur-kids.