Festive Hazards: What Can't I Feed My Dog For Christmas?

December is a time for gift-giving, merry-making, and especially for eating lots of food. However, some foods are poisonous for dogs. Here's what you definitely can't feed them this Christmas.

December is, for many people, a time to see loved ones, express gratitude and eat lots of delicious food together. 


However some of our favourite treats can be really dangerous to our four legged pals, so be careful what you feed them this season. 


Here is a list of ingredients and food products you should avoid feeding your dog. 

The Naughty List: What Dogs Cannot Have for Christmas


1. Chocolate:

Found in: Decorations and gifts.

Problem: A chemical which is found in chocolate - theobromine - can cause gastrointestinal issues (vomiting and diarrhoea) and neurological and heart problems

Solution: Avoid! Doggy chocolate is safe for dogs, but normal chocolate is not, and the toxin can accumulate in dogs, so the more they eat, the higher the risk

What happens if they eat some: Check this helpful chocolate toxicity website which will tell you if you need to visit the vet or not from emergency care provider Vets Now - https://dog-chocolate-calculator.vets-now.com/


2. Onion and garlic:

Found in: Gravy / stuffing / some roast dinners

Problem: Can cause gastrointestinal issues, and also damage to red blood cells

Solution: Avoid - call your vet if your dog has eaten onion or garlic in case they need to be seen.


3. Grapes, sultanas, currants and raisins:

Found in: Mince pies, Christmas puddings, some dinners and some confectionery 

Problem: Tartaric acid - found in grapes - can cause kidney failure in dogs, which can be fatal, but some grapes can be more toxic than others, and some dogs more sensitive than others

Solution: If your dog eats any amount of grapes, call your vet as soon as possible for emergency treatment. It isn’t worth taking the chance of ignoring the issue.


4. Alcohol:

Found in: Gifts, bottles, and some chocolates or desserts

Problem: Gastrointestinal problems, breathing issues, and neurological issues

Solution: Don’t share alcohol with your dog - if you think they might have drunk any, contact your vet immediately. 


5. Macadamia nuts:

Found in: Christmas snacks and some confectionery

Problem: Gastrointestinal symptoms and general weakness

Solution: Don’t feed any macadamia nuts to your dog


6. Xylitol:

Found in: Confectionery, chewing gum, toothpaste, mouthwash, some nut butters and some medication.

Problem: Xylitol can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar for dogs, which can be fatal if not treated quickly.

Solution: If you think your dog might have been exposed to xylitol, call your vet as soon as possible for emergency treatment.


What parts of Christmas dinner can I share with my dog?

  • Beans

  • Brussels sprouts

  • Parsnips

  • Broccoli

  • Carrots

  • Peas

  • Swede

  • Mashed potato

  • New potatoes

  • Sweet potatoes

  • Nothing with gravy!


The Animal Poisons Line is a very helpful chargeable service available 24/7 - if you think your dog may have eaten something they shouldn’t have, they can advise you how serious it is, and whether you need to take them to the vet or not.

Click Here To Try Omni Vet Formulated Food & Treats

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FAQs

But aren’t dog’s carnivores?

Dogs are in fact nutritional omnivores as demonstrated by a robust scientific study published in the reputable journal Nature (1,2) in which it was shown that they have 30 copies of the AMY2B gene responsible for digesting plant-based foods.

They have also evolved relatively long intestines (21) (almost as long as humans) and relatively flat surfaces on their molars (31, 22) which they use for digesting and chewing a whole range of foods.

The common misconception that dogs are carnivores probably arises from the fact that they are classified in the order Carnivora but so are plenty of other species like bears, skunks, racoons who are omnivores and even the giant panda who thrives on a plant-based diet (20).

Is plant protein digestible to dogs?

Absolutely yes, studies which have looked at how much protein dogs can absorb from plant-based and fungi-based foods like soya and yeast demonstrated over 75% digestibility which is on par with meat-based foods (23, 24, 34, 35 & 25).

Both these protein sources also contain all 10 essential amino acids (36, 37) that dogs need to thrive.

Isn't there too much fibre in plant-based food?

The average amount of fibre in a commercial dog food diet is between 2-4%. omni’s plant-powered recipe has a fibre content of 3% which is on par with meat- based diets.

In our survey with over 200 dog owners, 100% reported that their dog’s stool consistency was either ‘normal’ or ‘perfect’ and there were no reports of any digestive upsets (data on file).

Can I mix omni with other meat-based diets?

We are proud that our recipes are nutritionally complete and so include everything your dog needs to thrive. This means omni can be fed as a sole ration. We also fully support a 'flexitarian approach' like meat free lunches or using omni as a mixer.

Every little helps to bring some of the health and environmental benefits of plant-power to meal times. Mixing omni with meat/fish will help to add variety into your dog’s diet whilst adding in healthy ingredients with a relatively low carbon footprint.

Can plant-based food provide the essential fatty acids dogs need?

All the essential fats and oils that dogs need, including omegas 3 and 6 are found in a variety of both meat and plant-based foods (31, 28).

omni’s recipe is rich in plant-based sources of these nutrients so your dog will get all the essentials they need.

I hear a lot about feeding raw meat, isn’t that better?

Feeding raw meat to dogs has become a very popular trend in recent years, but most vets will warn against this practise. This is because the cooking process is vital to help kill off dangerous bacteria like E coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter (9) that have necessitated several food recalls from the market and caused serious illness and even death in both dogs and their owners (40, 41, & 42).

There are also several worms and parasites that are only killed off when raw meat is cooked. Dogs are dogs, not wolves and thanks to their domestication over thousands of years, thankfully don’t need to hunt to get their grub nor do they need to eat raw meat, it's just not worth the risk.

References

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