‘I’m a veterinary expert – from GRAVY to MINCE PIES, these are the top five Christmas foods you should NEVER feed your dog

A veterinary expert has revealed the top five foods to avoid feeding your pooch over the festive season – from gravy to mince pies.

With Christmas less than two weeks away, supermarkets are filled with people stashing indulgent treats and other goodies into their trolleys.

And when the shopping is unloaded at home, there’s sure to be a pair of fluffy beady eyes watching – if you have a four-legged friend, of course.

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But before giving your scraps to fido, there are certain foods which must be avoided at all costs this Christmas, reports What’s The Jam.

Carolanne Cicero, an expert veterinary nurse, says that some items, which often fly under the radar, can only cause upset tummies – but in some cases, are toxic.

These are the top five ingredients to never feed your dog.

CHOCOLATE

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are highly toxic to dogs.

So how can you stop an emergency trip to the vets this Christmas?

She said: “We’ve got advent calendars, selection boxes, boxes of chocolate, [edible] Santa – and sometimes these can be wrapped and put under the tree without knowing there’s even chocolate in there.

“Chocolate has a safe dose and a toxic dose.

“There’s a certain amount that might be okay – depends on the weight of the dog, the type of the dog, any medical issues or conditions – so if you’re in any doubt, always check with the vet.

“Dark chocolate and plain chocolate is worse than milk chocolate.

“White chocolate is okay but obviously the sugar content tends to be a bit high, so try to avoid it if you can.”

MINCE PIE & CHRISTMAS PUDDING

Raisins are often a staple fruit throughout the festive season and can be found in Christmas puddings and mince pies, so it’s important not to let your dog have a taste.

And the same goes for grapes, currants and sultanas.

Carolanne said: “You need to avoid [these] as there isn’t a safe dose or toxic dose of these things.

“One grape can cause a big dog a lot of harm, whereas a bunch of grapes might be okay for a small dog, you just never know.

“So mince pies, Christmas cake, pudding, all that kind of thing, there’s loads of it about.

“If you know your dog has got hold of anything like that, get in contact with a vet straight away.”

ONIONS AND GARLIC

Two staples of cooking – not just throughout Christmas – but all year-round – though they can be potentially life-threatening to your pup.

But it depends on the amount consumed.

She said: “Dogs do need to eat quite a lot of [these vegetables] for it to have a toxic effect.

“But just to be on the safe side, we’d recommend staying away from things like gravy, or anything that’s got onion powder in it.

“Again, if you think your dog has ingested anything like that, give your vet a shout.”

Carolanne does stress for those who also have moggies that it’s not too much of a concern, as they tend to stay away from any foods that are deemed dangerous for them.

MACADAMIA NUTS

With beers and other drinks flowing, the picky bits on offer usually include crisps, chocolates and nuts.

But these in particular aren’t so friendly for your furry companion.

She said: “So there’s lots of packs of nuts around this time of year, but macadamia nuts are highly toxic.

“It can cause quite serious damage.”

SWEET TREATS

They are tasty to snack on while watching a Christmas film – but if your dog jumps up and nicks a few sweets, it could lead to a disaster.

Carolanne said: “The sugar content is obviously too high for dogs – [even if] some do have a sweet tooth.

“But the main thing we need to be concerned about is anything that uses xylitol.

“That is a sugar supplement, like a sweetener, that can cause an animal’s glucose to drop really quickly.

“This causes really serious consequences.

“If they’ve eaten any chewing gum, or sweets that have got that as an ingredient, then you need to [seek help].”

Other food and drink to avoid includes alcohol or leftovers when the ingredients aren’t clear.

She says there are many ways to give your dog a roast dinner or treats at Christmas time safely – just be cautious.

Carolanne works as an In-House Veterinary Advisor for raw pet food company, Bella + Duke.

A few years ago, the brand launched a turkey and cranberry dinner, so that pooches could enjoy their own version of a leftover sandwich, alongside a range of festive treats.

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