Safe Christmas Foods for Dogs
We always have leftovers on Christmas Day, and to be honest, I always make my dogs their own special dinner.
Here are some Christmas treats that your dog can enjoy safely in moderation:
1. Turkey
- Why it’s great: Lean turkey meat is a great source of protein for dogs.
- How to serve: If it’s heavily seasoned it’s best to rinse it off before feeding. Always remove the cooked bones as they can splinter.
- Portion tip: A small portion of plain turkey (around 10% of your dog’s daily intake) is plenty for them to enjoy a taste of Christmas dinner. Don’t feed loads of the skin or fatty pieces as some dogs will struggle to cope.
2. Vegetables - Carrots, Green Beans, Sweet Potatoes, and Parsnips
- Why they’re safe: These veggies are high in fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants.
- How to serve: Serve them plain, cooked, or raw. Avoid any heavy seasoning.
- Portion tip: Too much fibre can upset your dog’s stomach, so offer veggies in small amounts if they don’t have them often.
3. Apples (Without Seeds or Core)
- Why they’re fine: Apples are full of fibre and vitamin C.
- How to serve: Remove the seeds and core (as they contain cyanide) and offer small, fresh slices off your Christmas platters. Don’t feed apple sauce though, as this will usually contain added sugars and potentially artificial sweeteners.
- Portion tip: One or two small slices are enough as a treat.
4. Blueberries and Cranberries (Fresh or Dried, No Added Sugar)
- Why they’re safe: Packed with antioxidants, cranberries and blueberries are a great festive superfood for dogs.
- How to serve: Fresh, plain, or in small quantities of dried (unsweetened) form.
- Portion tip: Offer just a few as they are high in natural sugars.
5. Sweet Potato and Swede
- Why they’re fine: These are gentle on a dog’s digestive system and rich in fibre, beta-carotene, and vitamins.
- How to serve: Plain, boiled, or baked (not sugared, covered in marshmallows or sugar - yes people do that yuuuck).
- Portion tip: Offer a spoonful or two.
6. Peanut Butter (Unsweetened, Xylitol-Free)
- Why it’s safe: A small spoonful of natural peanut butter is a tasty treat.
- How to serve: Ensure it’s free from xylitol (an artificial sweetener that’s toxic to dogs) and contains no added sugar.
- Portion tip: Use it as a spread on a dog-safe Christmas treat or pop it into a Kong toy for a good activity to keep them occupied and relaxed if your house is busy.
Christmas Foods to Avoid! At all costs!
Now, let’s look at the Christmas foods that you should never feed your dog. With the excitement around christmas time, it’s easy to make a mistake. Some of these are toxic, while others pose a choking hazard or digestive risk.
1. Pigs in Blankets
- Why they’re not ideal: Sorry to say, one of the nation’s most favourite christmas sides are not safe for dogs. Processed meats have been labelled as a Group 1 Carcinogen, meaning they are cancer causing - so let’s not feed that to our pooches. Not to mention they’re very high in salt.
- You’re not going to necessarily notice any poisoning in small quantities, but it will make your dog thirsty and could upset their stomach.
- So just don’t feed them. Sorry-not-sorry… all the more for us!
2. Chocolate
- Why it’s so dangerous: Contains theobromine which is toxic to dogs.
- Signs of poisoning: Vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors, seizures, and rapid heartbeat.
- Safety tip: Store chocolates, chocolate coins, and advent calendars well out of reach. Do not put any edible presents on or under the tree either!
3. Grapes
- Why they’re so dangerous: There is no known toxic dose for a dog, so whether they’ve eaten 1, or 10 you will not know how much damage it’s going to do.
- Signs of poisoning: You may not notice until it’s too late, if your dog nabs a grape over Christmas be sure to call your out of hours vet immediately.
- Keep it safe: Just keep grapes well out of reach.
4. Mince Pies, Christmas Cake, and Puddings
- Why they’re Dangerous: Christmas puds and the like often contain raisins, sultanas, currants, and alcohol, all of which are highly toxic to dogs.
- Signs of Poisoning: Kidney failure can occur, with symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, and decreased appetite. Call your out of hours vet immediately if you believe your dog has eaten some.
- No mince pies, or puddings for Fido! Even small amounts can cause severe harm!
5. Onions, Leeks, and Chives
- Why they’re not safe: These contain thiosulphate, which can cause red blood cell damage, leading to anaemia.
- Signs of poisoning: Lethargy, weakness, pale gums, and loss of appetite.
- Avoid feeding your dog any gravy, stuffing, or sauces containing these ingredients.
6. Alcohol… AKA Baileys!
- Why It’s Dangerous: Dogs metabolise alcohol very poorly, and it can cause alcohol poisoning.
- Signs of Poisoning: Disorientation, vomiting, seizures, and in severe cases, coma or death.
- Watch out for tipples left within reach. Baileys is apparently very appealing to nosey pups!
7. Cooked Bones (Turkey, Chicken, or Other Meats)
- Why They’re Dangerous: Cooked bones can splinter, causing choking or gastrointestinal punctures.
- Don’t ever feed cooked bones, if your dog does raid the bin then call your out of hours vet immediately. If you want to offer bones, opt for raw, dog-safe bones.
8. Xylitol (Artificial Sweetener)
- Why It’s Dangerous: Xylitol is found in sugar-free sweets, chewing gum, and peanut butter.
- Signs of Poisoning: Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), vomiting, loss of coordination, and seizures.
- Always check the ingredients before sharing sweets or peanut butter with your dog.
9. Nutmeg
- Why It’s Dangerous: Contains myristicin, a compound that can cause seizures and disorientation in dogs.
- Avoid feeding any food seasoned with nutmeg, such as festive cakes, gingerbread or biscuits.
How to create the perfect christmas dinner
It’s worth considering what your dog normally eats, as to what their gut can cope with on christmas. Imagine if your child who never really ate chocolate, guzzled their way through a whole box of heroes on Christmas day…you would quickly find yourself on clean up duty. The same principle applies here.
My dogs who are already on a balanced diet and are used to fresh additions to the bowl, i do the following…
- Half of their Christmas Bowl is meat, with no cooked bones, or large chunks of fat or skin.
- A quarter can be vegetables such as broccoli, sprouts, carrots, or cabbage.
- The other quarter can be complex carbohydrates e.g. sweet potato, normal roasted or mash potato (ensuring it’s not heavily seasonsoned), and if you feel it’s appropriate for your individual dog’s gut, share some yorkshire pudding.
And not to be forgotten, Gravy. It’s a tricky one… it's usually high in salts and fat, so as much as you’ll want to share it - it’s not ideal. I may, or may not give mine a little dash on christmas day though…
My top Christmas Tips, from my busy family home to yours…
- Keep human food out of reach. Dogs are opportunistic eaters and will swipe a mince pie off the table in seconds (or a guzzle of your unattended baileys!)
- Create a dog-friendly Christmas platter. Prepare a special plate for leftovers that are dog-safe like plain turkey, veggies, and peanut butter treats, so your family can safely share the gift of giving this christmas!
- Educate your guests! Let visiting family and friends know when they arrive which foods are unsafe for your dog and to be careful. It would surprise you how many people think grapes look like a tasty snack!
- If your dog does consume dangerous food, contact your vet immediately for advice. They may not require you to go in and spend a fortune, they may be able to give you practical advice to follow at home to keep your dog safe
Enjoy your festive season, and from all of us at North West Breeding Services, have a safe and happy Christmas with your four-legged family members!
Love Jo, Steve & the Team at NWBS x
