Dangerous food and drink

Chocolate, raisins, mince pies, Christmas pudding are all poisonous for dogs so make sure you keep them out of reach. And it goes without saying - alcohol. Please just don't.

What leftovers can you feed them? Carrots, parsnips, turkey (if there's any left), salmon, peas, rosties.

Christmas plants

Poinsettia - this beautiful red flower appears everywhere around tis time of the year but it can cause irritation in the mouth and stomach and can cause vomiting.

Holly - considered low in toxicity but if the berries are ingested they can cause an upset tummy.

Mistletoe - similar to holly if the berries are ingested they can cause an upset stomach and vomiting.

Christmas tree - not high on the toxicity levels but sharp pine needle tips can cause damage internally.

Wrapping paper

If you have a dog that likes to discover the world with their mouth, eating larger amounts of paper can cause digestive issues and obstructions in the stomach.

Christmas Decorations

Decorations made of plastic, paper or foil are of low toxicity although may obstruct the stomach if ingested. Glass decorations pose a risk if chewed or swallowed.

Fairy Lights

One of the dangerous elements to dogs and Christmas trees are the twinkling lights wrapped around them. They may look harmless, but some dogs think of the wires as shiny new chew toys – which is most common with younger dogs or puppies. Also, if you have a particularly boisterous pup that likes to play, they may get tangled up in the wires.

Visitors

With plenty of friends and family visiting over the holidays, this can be quite overwhelming for your dog  especially if they’re not used to it. Make sure you provide them with a safe space away from it all, put down blankets, favourite toys and a few treats they can occupy themselves with (sniffle mats, kong toys, lickimats etc.). That way if they feel stressed from all the excitement around, they can go to their quiet space.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!