What Christmas Food Can Dogs Eat, And What Should They Avoid?

Christmas is probably the most extravagant holiday of the year, and as a good dog parent, it’s normal to want your furbaby to try some delicious celebratory food.

However, not all human foods are safe for dogs. Some foods can cause digestive problems in dogs, while others are much more dangerous and even deadly.

So, if you want to treat your dog for this special day, you need to see which foods are safe for your dog to eat and which foods are toxic and should be avoided altogether instead.

Newsweek We spoke with veterinarians and dog experts to find out what dogs should never eat.

What Christmas Dinner Items Are Bad for Dogs?

Dr. Patrik Holmboe, Chief Veterinarian at Cooper Pet Care said: Newsweek When talking about dog-safe and unsafe Christmas foods, it helps to divide the foods into three categories.

• Foods that are poisonous and dangerous and should never be given
• Foods that are certainly not healthy, but are harmless in small amounts
• Of course, safe foods that can be given in larger amounts if the dog likes it use common sense as to how much to give.

We all indulge in the holidays, so it may be tempting to give your pet an extra treat or two, but many leftovers can be dangerous for dogs, so what you give your dog includes: be careful.

1. Chocolate

Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. This is because it contains a toxin called theobromine, which dogs cannot metabolize in the same way as humans, making them more sensitive to the chemical’s effects.

Baking chocolate and gourmet dark chocolate are highly concentrated, containing 130-450 mg of theobromine per ounce. Common milk chocolate contains about 44-58 mg of theobromine per ounce and white chocolate contains only 0.25 mg of theobromine per ounce of chocolate, reducing the risk of chocolate poisoning. Almost never.

To put this into perspective, a medium-sized dog weighing 50 pounds need only eat 1 ounce of bakery chocolate or 9 ounces of milk chocolate to show signs of poisoning.

2. Onions, chives, garlic, chives, shallots

Plants in this family are also toxic to dogs, and many foods are made with these ingredients, so care should be taken before giving a slice of meat pie to your dog.

3. All kinds of bones, especially cooked bones

Bones can cause all sorts of problems in the digestive tract. They can tear, get stuck, or puncture the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.

4. Raisins and Grapes

Dr. Jamie Richardson, Director of Veterinary Medicine at Small Door Vet said: Newsweek Eating even a small amount of grapes or raisins can lead to acute renal failure in dogs, so care should be taken to keep them out of reach and to cake, bread and stuffing mixtures that may contain them. I have.

5. Products containing xylitol

Xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in sugar-free products such as cranberry sauce, peanut butter, and ketchup, can damage your dog’s liver.

6. Macadamia nuts and walnuts

Both macadamia nuts and walnuts can be toxic to dogs. Macadamia nuts are a very fatty food and in rare cases dogs can develop pancreatic inflammation or pancreatitis after eating them.

If your pet has eaten macadamia nuts, contact your local veterinarian immediately. If your dog starts shivering constantly, has a high fever, or is unable to walk, it will need veterinary care.

7. Fatty meat

Even small amounts of fatty meat can cause pancreatitis in dogs, which can be fatal, according to Dr. Richardson. Keep out of reach of pets as it may cause

8. Alcohol

Alcohol is also prohibited. That’s because dogs aren’t just made to handle it like we are, they’re also much smaller than us, which puts them at a higher risk of alcohol poisoning. is not a good idea.

9. Fresh yeast dough

Raw yeast dough can cause painful bloating and potential ethanol poisoning in pets, so make sure dough is out of reach when baking bread.

10. Pie

Any form of baked goods or desserts such as pies.

11. Cheese

Cheese is generally safe for dogs, but most pets are lactose intolerant, so cheese can cause gastrointestinal upset. Hard cheese is lower in lactose and is a better option.

If your pet is eating a cheese platter, it is safe to give your pet a very small amount of cheese, but be careful not to overdo it as the high fat content in cheese can cause pancreatitis in dogs. please.

12. Gravy

Be sure to check the ingredients before adding a little gravy to your pet’s food bowl, as gravy is usually high in salt and may also contain additives such as onions and garlic that are toxic to pets. please confirm.

what food can you give your dog from christmas dinner

Most foods that are healthy for humans are often, but not always, healthy for dogs.

1. Most vegetables

Most vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, and sweet potatoes, are safe as long as they don’t have too much butter, salt, and other seasonings (such as onions and garlic).

But Dr. Rochardson warns that vegetables, especially broccoli and cauliflower, can cause gas, so you might get a stinky smell!

2. potatoes

Potatoes are fine, but be careful what else is included in your potato dishes, as they often contain onions, garlic, spices, or even cheese.

3. Red meat

Lean chicken or turkey meat is fine in moderation, assuming no bones or spices in it.

A small amount of unseasoned white meat, such as turkey breast, is a great treat for your dog, as long as you avoid the skin and bones. However, turkey skin is very fatty and in large amounts can cause life-threatening pancreatitis in both dogs.

Alison Frost, Consultant Nutritionist at ProDog Raw, said: Newsweek Other safe lean parts you can safely share with your dog include beef and lamb that are perfectly fine in moderation.

she said:

4. Salmon

A small amount of slammon is also a safe treat for your dog to munch on, but as with any food, make sure it’s not too salty and doesn’t contain extra seasonings like garlic or onion.

5. Pumpkin

Plain pumpkin is a safe, nutritious, high-fiber treat for dogs. However, before giving it to your pet, you should make sure it does not contain any spices or seasonings and that it is cooked and finely chopped.

The skin, leaves, stems and seeds should also be removed as they are a choking hazard. Avoid pumpkin pie fillings because of their high sugar content.

6. Most fruits

With the exception of grapes, raisins, and currants, most fruits are safe for dogs. Be sure to remove the kernel from the drupe and avoid feeding the apple core because of the

7. Homemade Bone Broth

What your dog will be drooling over this Christmas is homemade bone broth, says Frost.

“Put the turkey carcass in a pot, fill with water, add a spoonful of apple cider vinegar, simmer for 10 hours, chill in the refrigerator, skim off the top fat, and voila!” You’ll need to make sure you’ve removed all the bones before).

What to do if your dog eats something unhealthy

According to Dr. Holmbaugh, it actually comes down to certain situations. For example, if you have a small dog that has eaten a lot of chocolate, this is an absolute emergency and you should take your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

On the other hand, if your Labrador eats baked potatoes, this is less likely to be a big problem.

Signs of pet poisoning include sudden behavioral changes such as pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. It’s always best to call your trusted veterinarian to make sure your dog is safe.

You can also call the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline at (888) 426-4435 for 24/7 advice.

Whether you’re traveling away from home or staying in this holiday season, veterinarians should have the details of their local 24/7 emergency veterinarian on hand just in case. is recommended.

Also, if your pet has a chronic illness, be sure to carry a health record with you while traveling.