Dog-Friendly Dinners – Treating Your Canine This Christmas
by James P. Outreach & PR ExecutiveFor many of us, our dogs are part of our family. And that
means including them in our family traditions like celebrating their birthday
and Christmas.
Buying our dogs Christmas presents, like new toys, beds or
treats, can help us share the excitement of Christmas with them. And who hasn’t
enjoyed the sight of their dog excitably playing with wrapping paper or their
new toys on Christmas morning?
It’s natural to think that sharing your Christmas dinner
with your dog is a great way to spoil them on the big day. But many elements of
our Christmas dinner can upset our dogs’ stomachs or even be dangerous for
them.
Here, we cover how you can include your dog in Christmas Day
indulgences without making them sick.
Dog-friendly Christmas roast
Meat is a core component of Christmas dinner for many, so
it’s natural to think about sharing some of the centrepiece with your dog. But because
we tend to baste our turkeys in oil and fat, they’re not healthy for our furry
friends.
The
PDSA recommends only feeding your dog small portions of any human food. If
you’re planning on giving them a taste of turkey, make sure it’s only lean
white meat and not the fatty skin or darker parts, which can be too rich for them.
The same rules apply to any other parts of your Christmas
dinner. If you’re plating up a portion for your dog, make sure all of the
vegetables are boiled or steamed, without anything extra like butter, salt, or
onion.
What not to feed your dog
Pigs in blankets sound like the perfect treat for your dog
but, as they’re very fatty, they’re really unhealthy. Feeding dogs food which
is high in fat, or cooked in fat, can
lead to pancreatitis —the last thing you want on Christmas Day is a trip to
your local vet!
Many people might consider giving their dogs turkey bones as
an additional treat to chew on, but this is also dangerous. The jury is out on whether
raw bones are completely safe for dogs, but cooked bones are definitely
unsafe. They’re not only a choking hazard, but they can cause gut blockages and
even pierce your dog’s throat or stomach.
Sweet treats are also out. No matter how much your dog gives
you puppy-dog eyes when you’re tucking into your selection box. Even a small
amount of chocolate can be poisonous
to dogs. This also goes for Christmas pudding because currants, raisins,
and sultanas are really toxic to dogs.
Festive-themed dog treats
It’s clear there are a lot of risks when it comes to sharing
your Christmas dinner with your dog. The good news is that you can get
festive-themed food specifically designed for your dog.
Pet food companies are widening their range of meals and
treats on offer so you can give them dog-friendly foods with a festive twist. Dog
advent calendars are a great way to give your pooch a small, festive treat each
day. They also ensure your dogs aren’t being overfed, which is a risk at
Christmas.
Christmas-themed treats are also becoming more common,
giving your dog the chance to indulge in festive foods that are perfectly
tailored to them. You can even get Christmas dinner-themed meals for your dog –
perfect for them to indulge in while you’re tucking into your festive feast!
Canine Christmas without the side-effects
We share our Christmas dinners with our dogs because we love
them and we want to involve them in our favourite festive traditions. But
knowing what you can and can’t give them is important for their health.
Ciara Clarke, Veterinary Surgeon at Butternut Box, a
provider of high-quality, freshly prepared dog food, commented: “At Butternut
Box, we believe dogs deserve better, and that means a better Christmas dinner,
not just scraps.
“You can adapt dog food so that your dog's Christmas dinner
is as special as yours. Adding cranberries and parsnips to our turkey recipe
will allow your dog to enjoy a festive treat that you know is healthy for them.
“If your dog does pinch something they shouldn't from the
dinner table, we recommend feeding them a bland diet with plenty of fresh water.
Speak to your vet if they’ve eaten anything poisonous like chocolate or
raisins.”
Some parts of our Christmas dinner are not only unhealthy
for our dogs but can be dangerous. While you can give them small portions of
the dog-friendly elements, make sure to consider treats or sensitive
stomach dog food created exclusively for your four-legged friends this
Christmas.
Sources
https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/turkey/
https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/popular-dog-chews-that-are-actually-dangerous-to-dogs
https://www.vets-now.com/dog-chocolate-toxicity-calculator
Sponsor Ads
Created on Dec 18th 2020 03:24. Viewed 384 times.