Safe And Toxic Christmas Treats Every Cat And Dog Owner Should Know About

Do you need helping finding treats for your pets this Christmas?

Make your pets feel extra special this Christmas season with our list of safe and toxic food for dogs and cats.

We have you covered with a pet gift guide that is sure to give you enough

Safe foods

Leftover beef or chicken

As long as it’s deboned, leftover beef or chicken can be a delicious treat for your pet. However, be sure to feed in moderation – an abundance of any food will likely leave your pet with a stomach ache.

Fruit and vegetables

Small amounts of apples, oranges, bananas, blueberries and watermelon are all healthy treats for dogs at Christmas. They can be especially tasty and refreshing for fury friends when they are kept in the fridge and given on a hot day.

However, be sure to remove all of the seeds first as these can become lodged in your pet’s intestines. Also avoid stone fruits as the pit is poisonous.

Carrot sticks, sweet potato, green beans, cucumber, pumpkin and zucchini are also wonderful snack options for your pet.

Unsafe foods

Chocolate

The cacao seeds that give chocolate its delicious taste also contain a compound called theobromine, which is toxic to cats and dogs, and if consumed can cause serious illness or death.

Your fury friends may suffer from vomiting, diarrhoea, panting, excessive thirst and hyperactivity after eating chocolate. Not to mention the potentially deadly symptoms such as an abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.

Raisins and grapes

Raisins and grapes can be fatally toxic to dogs, even in small qualities, so no Christmas pudding or cake for your four-legged friends. There is actually a toxin in the products which carries a risk of causing severe liver damage and kidney failure.

Macadamia Nuts

You may enjoy devouring some chocolate coated macadamia nuts but if consumed by dogs they cause serious health issues. Your fury friend may experience vomiting, weakness, a fever, muscle tremors and depression after eating the food.

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Onions

Onions, garlic and chives are often included in dinners and lunches for humans to add an extra bit of flavour, but for pets they are incredibly dangerous to consume. It doesn’t matter if they’re dry, cooked into a meal or raw, with all three causing gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage for dogs and cats alike.

Even more concerning is that the symptoms may not even show immediately, with it sometimes taking a few days for the warning signs to present themselves. Things to look out for include vomiting, diarrhoea and an elevated heart rate.

Under-cooked meat

Just like humans, your pets can suffer the effects of eating under-cooked meat which can contain e-coli and other bacteria – Under-cooked chicken is especially risky.

Pork, bacon and ham

Some pork products, such as bacon and ham, contain a high amount of fat which can lead to illnesses like pancreatitis. The excess in salt can also cause dehydration and potentially bloat.

Bloat occurs when your dog drinks too much water at once and their stomach can fill with fluid and gas. This puts pressure on the other organs and can lead to death.

Alcohol

While it may seem obvious, allowing our pets to consume any alcohol is dangerous. It can cause alcohol toxicity and even seizures.

Milk and dairy products

Lactose intolerance is becoming a common problem in humans who are unable to digest dairy products properly. It can lead to severe bloating and abdominal pain as the body struggles to digest it.

In dogs and some cats, it’s even worse, leading to diarrhoea and digestive problems. While it’s tempting to treat them to a different drink, it’s not worth the risk, so best to stick with water.

Lollies

Eating too many lollies will likely leave you feeling a little sick in the stomach but for your pets it’s even worse. Lollies can affect your pet’s metabolism when consumed in high amounts and can even cause diabetes.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. Healthy Supplies Shop is  not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of healthy supplies shop  and we do not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.