Christmas is a holiday with experiences for all the senses: lots of good food, sweets and exciting presents. But some of Christmas's delicacies and mood-setters come with risks for cats and dogs. Petgood's veterinary team therefore shares what you as a pet owner should keep in mind, and what you can offer instead so that your four-legged friends also get a really nice and cosy Christmas.
Cocoa - a well-known danger
That chocolate is toxic to cats and dogs is now widely known. Despite this, the number of chocolate poisonings almost always increases during Christmas. Keep in mind that the toxic substance is in the cocoa, so it is not just the box of chocolates that should be kept out of reach, but all Christmas sweets and all baked goods that contain cocoa. The higher the cocoa content, and the lower the animal's body weight, the greater the risk of poisoning. Always call and consult your vet as soon as possible if your dog or cat has ingested cocoa.
Keep an eye on raisins, nuts and Christmas food
Raisins are found in many of Christmas's buns and breads and can cause acute kidney failure in cats and dogs. So do not treat your pets to anything with raisins, and keep the packaging at a safe distance when it is time to bake saffron buns. Should your dog or cat eat fermenting dough, there is a risk of an upset stomach, and if you bake with nuts you should also keep a watchful eye, since the stomach cannot digest them.
Feasting on Christmas food in too large amounts can also give your cat or dog an upset stomach. The biggest culprit is high levels of fat, and in addition to being fatty, Christmas food is often very salty. Many dishes also contain onion in various amounts, which is toxic to both dogs and cats and can cause anaemia. Limit the amount of Christmas food you let your four-legged friends taste, and leave out the fattiest and saltiest pieces.
Gift ribbons and tinsel - a danger to cats
Gift ribbons and tinsel that get stuck in the intestines are a risk above all for cats, who are easily tempted to play with anything that resembles a string and happily chew on it. Strings can cause intestinal damage, and it also happens that they get stuck around the tongue or in the throat. Puppies too taste most things, and a newly opened Christmas present can easily be mistaken for a fun chew toy. Always contact your vet for advice if your dog or cat has eaten something unsuitable.
Healthy and tasty Christmas gifts for your four-legged friends
Of course you want to treat your four-legged friend to something extra tasty around Christmas, so why not fix something special for their very own Christmas table?
At Petgood you will find treats to spoil your four-legged friend with. Our Bug Biscuits are perfect under the dog's Christmas tree: oven-baked dog biscuits with a festive taste of cinnamon. Or why not treat your dog to our wet food instead of the Christmas ham?
For the cat, Petgood's insect-based wet food is a good choice, which with its high content of insect protein becomes both a tasty and healthy alternative to Christmas food, and is the perfect size to wrap up in a small parcel.
These snacks are not only good to offer instead of the meatball, but also as a gift for the Christmas celebration at your friend's home with a cat or dog. If you want to know more about the benefits of insects or explore the range for dogs and cats, you are welcome to have a look around here.