Sharing is caring, but not everything from your Christmas dinner plate can be shared with Fido. The traditional Christmas dinner menu has several tasty grubs that are potential health hazards for your dog.
What Christmas Foods Are Dangerous to Dogs?
Here are 11 Christmas foods that should be kept out of your dog’s Christmas dinner bowl. They contain ingredients that can cause him to develop serious ailments.
1. Can Dogs Eat Nuts?
Nuts present risks of choking and intestinal blockage to dogs, especially small breeds. Some nuts, such as peanuts and almonds, can also trigger digestive upset due to their high-fat content.
Other nut varieties like macadamia nuts and walnuts are potentially deadly to dogs because of the toxic compounds they produce. Ingesting them can induce seizures, tremors, and other neurological issues.
Read: Can Dogs Eat Nuts? 11 Most Popular Nuts for Dogs
2. Can Dogs Eat Chocolate?
No. Chocolate is extremely lethal to dogs, even in small amounts. It possesses caffeine and theobromine, which are highly toxic to dogs. They can cause alarming side effects such as increased heart rate, convulsions, muscle tremors, and heart failure.
Don’t leave any chocolate lying around your home during the Christmas holiday. Be sure to store it in an area out of your pet’s reach.
3. Can Dogs Have Alcohol?
No. Wine, champagne, rum, and other alcoholic beverages are not meant to be shared with dogs. They contain ethanol, which dogs are highly sensitive to. In addition, drinking alcoholic beverages can cause your furry companion to have low blood pressure, seizures, and coma.
With this in mind, always clean up spilled alcohol to prevent your dog from lapping it up.
4. Can Dogs Have Soda?
No. Soda contains high levels of sugar and plenty of preservatives, coloring, and other unhealthy ingredients for dogs. Certain soda brands also use caffeine or xylitol, which can cause poisoning.
If your furry companion guzzles on soda, he will likely suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, and gassiness. In worst cases, he may develop obesity, diabetes, or severe toxicosis.
5. Can Dogs Have Dairy?
No. Many dogs develop lactose intolerance or dairy allergies as they grow out of puppyhood. Dairy products such as butter, cream, milk, and cheese will wreak their digestive tract and may cause skin issues.
For this reason, avoid letting your furry companion eat Christmas dinner foods containing dairy products, such as bread sauce and cheese dips.
6. Can Dogs Eat Stuffing?
No. One of the most common ingredients in stuffing is onions, which are dangerous to canines. If ingested, they destroy the red blood cells and may lead to hemolytic anemia without proper treatment.
Aside from onions, stuffing is also made up of spices and herbs such as salt, sage, thyme, and black pepper that can irritate your pooch’s digestive tract. Some stuffing recipes require the use of nutmeg, which can damage the nervous system of dogs when ingested.
7. Can Dogs Eat Gravy?
No. Gravy made for human consumption has too much fat and sodium. Feeding it to your canine companion will lead to several health issues, such as diarrhea, stomach upset, and kidney problems. Some gravy also contains onions, garlic, or leeks which are poisonous to canines.
8. Can Dogs Eat Pigs in Blankets?
No. These bacon-wrapped sausages are very unhealthy for your pooch. Pigs in blankets are high in salt and full of fats. They are detrimental to your pet’s kidney function and may cause weight gain and obesity.
Their fat content can also mess up his digestive tract, which can result in diarrhea, upset stomach, and other gastric issues.
9. Can dogs eat Christmas Ham?
No. Ham is loaded with fats and sodium. Allowing your pet to overeat on this Christmas dinner food exposes him to the risk of severe digestive upset and pancreatitis.
Ingesting salty foods like Christmas ham increases water intake, which can result in gastric torsion or bloat in large dog breeds.
10. Can Dogs Eat Christmas Candy Canes?
No. Christmas candy canes are laden with sugar and sweeteners, which are bad for your dog’s dental health and digestive system. They increase the risk of tooth decay, stomach upset, and diabetes. Some types of candy canes contain toxic ingredients to canines, such as peppermint oil and xylitol.
11. Can Dogs Eat Christmas Desserts?
No. Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, yule log, fruit cake, mince pies, gingerbread cookies, and other festive desserts should be kept away from dogs. They usually contain toxic ingredients to canines, such as raisins, currants, sultanas, chocolate, and xylitol.
When consumed, they can cause severe kidney failure, neurological disorders, and even death in dogs. Christmas desserts are also packed full of sugar, which harms your pet’s overall health.
If your dog has ingested toxic Christmas dinner foods, bring him to the vet immediately. Make sure to take note of how much he has eaten and how long has he been exposed to the poison.
If possible, also know the product name or list of ingredients of the food he has consumed. These crucial information will help the vet choose the right treatment for your pooch.
What Christmas Dinner Foods Are Safe for Dogs?
Sharing is one of the best ways to celebrate the Christmas season. Here are the festive foods that can be safely shared with your beloved furry companion during the holidays.
1. Can Dogs Eat Turkey?
Yes. Dogs can feast on turkey, provided that it is boneless. However, avoid sharing dark turkey meat and turkey skin with your pet since they contain high levels of fat. Instead, opt for the lean parts of the white turkey meat as they are less concentrated with fat.
Read: Can Dogs Eat Turkey? What Are the Feeding Restrictions?
2. Can Dogs Eat Cranberry Sauce?
Yes. Plain, pure cranberry sauce is safe for dogs. Always check the ingredients list before feeding it to your dog. Some cranberry sauce contains added ingredients such as nuts, sweeteners, and other fruits, which are unhealthy for him.
3. Can Dogs Eat Mashed Potatoes?
Yes. Mashed potatoes can be fed to dogs, but make sure they are free of butter, salt, and other ingredients. Offer this Christmas dinner food to your furry pal in small amounts since it is high in starch.
If your pooch consumes too much mashed potatoes, he may end up with an upset tummy.
4. Can Dogs Eat Winter Vegetables?
Yes. Winter vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, green beans, parsnips, peas, and spinach are not only nutritious ingredients in Christmas dishes but also healthy for dogs. Just make sure to serve them plain to your canine friend to prevent digestive issues from arising.
Although the Christmas dinner foods on this list are considered safe for dogs, don’t get carried away with the number of servings. Always keep in mind to feed in moderation, as too much is detrimental to your dog’s health.
