Christmas is the best time for introducing lots of exciting food, and drink. You get to decorate with trees, plants and attractive decorations which will not only be very appealing to your family but also to your dog. Some of these new arrivals however can be very harmful to dogs when eaten.
That’s why Animed Direct has created a Christmas brainteaser to challenge readers to spot the potential dangers for dogs around Christmas time.
The brainteaser shows a typical Christmas scene full of food, drink and treats but can you spot all 14 hazards?
We have provided you with with all the answers below so you can check and see how you did.
Mistletoe
If you’re puckering up under the mistletoe, keep it well away from your furry friends. Mistletoe berries are poisonous to dogs and, if eaten, can cause stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in the worst cases can result in seizures and even death.
Christmas tree
Pine oil is toxic for dogs, and Christmas trees can be risky. Their sharp needles can get stuck in a dog’s throat and stomach and cause internal damage if eaten, and can also get stuck in their paws. It’s a good idea to choose a tree with low needle-drop (and you save on the vacuuming, too).
Grapes
Delicious with your after-dinner cheeseboard but dangerous for your dog. Grapes contain a toxin that can cause liver and kidney damage in dogs, so avoid giving them grapes and go for a cheesy treat instead. Most cheeses – except for blue cheese – are fine in small amounts.
Christmas pudding
It’s not just the fruit form of grapes that’s toxic to dogs – but dried fruit like raisins, sultanas and currants, too. That means Christmas pudding, fruit cake and mince pies are all off the menu for dogs. Don’t be tempted to spoil him with pudding – give him a dog-friendly treat.
Nuts and chestnuts
Another of our favourites at Christmas, but not something your dog should be snacking on. As well as being a serious choking hazard, some nuts such as macadamias, walnuts and pecans contain toxins that can affect your dog’s digestive, muscle and nervous systems.
Stuffing
What’s Christmas dinner without stuffing, gravy and sausages? Sadly, the onions and garlic that make our dinner so tasty are highly toxic to dogs. Raw or cooked, onions contain toxins that can damage your dog’s red blood cells and cause anaemia and lead to organ failure.
Alcohol
The bar is closed for furry friends. Beer, wine or any alcohol is unsafe for dogs – even the smallest amount can make them disorientated and cause sickness, diarrhoea and breathing and nervous problems. If you want to include your dog in the festivities, check out the doggy tipples from Woof & Brew.
Avocados
A superfood for us, but poison for dogs. Avocado plants contain a substance called persin, which is safe for humans but can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs. The high fat content can affect their intestines and pancreas – and of course the stone is a serious choking risk.
Turkey bones
Dogs love a bone to chew on – but remember to give them only uncooked bones. Cooked bones can easily splinter and cause choking, or perforate your dog’s intestines or stomach, which can be fatal. A raw bone or some scraps of boneless turkey are perfect for your dog’s Christmas dinner.
Vegetables
The good news is that most green veg is safe for dogs. They can tuck in to green beans, Brussel sprouts and peas in moderation, even parsnips and swede, but too much may cause wind or diarrhoea. Watch out for veg like corn on the cob – although the corn is digestible, the cob could block their intestine.
Chocolate
A big ‘no’ for dogs! Chocolate can be very dangerous and life-threatening for them. It contains a stimulant called theobromine, which humans can digest but dogs can’t. It can cause serious reactions such as tremors, seizures, breathing and heart problems. So keep your edible tree decorations out of reach.
Sweets
Don’t let your dog get their paws on sweets. While sugar is clearly not good for them, sugar-free products are much worse. They often contain an artificial sweetener called Xylitol, which can cause hypoglycaemia, liver failure and blood clotting disorders. Stick to specially-formulated dog treats.
Coffee and tea
Our go-to cuppas that keep us energised through the day can be harmful to dogs. They have a much lower tolerance for caffeine than us humans, and can suffer nervous system, heart and breathing problems from ingesting only small amounts of coffee or tea, coffee grounds and teabags.