A lot of festive food could be potentially fatal to pets
The RSPCA has issued a warning to pet owners about the dangers of festive food and the damage they may cause if consumed by animals. Christmas time means having lots of delicious food and drink in the house – and with it being a time for sharing a lot of these products may be left open and unattended as they get passed from person to person.
On their website, the animal charity states: “Festive food is delicious, but much of it is highly toxic and dangerous to our pets. Avoid giving your cats, dogs or small animals (such as rabbits and guinea pigs) these foods as they can make them unwell.”
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Products including chocolate, mince pies, Christmas pudding, onion gravy, alcohol, and even meat on the bone can have a catastrophic impact on the welfare of your pet. Bones from carcasses are a dangerous choking hazard and can pose a risk of internal blockages and cause intestinal perforations.
Appearing on BBC Morning Live last week, vet Dr James Greenwood issued further advice on how to keep pets safe and healthy over Christmas. He said: “The obvious one that people think of it chocolate, but also raisins. There are all sorts of things that contain raisins including Christmas pudding and mince pies.”
If your pet does pick something up they shouldn't have, Vet James Greenwood has suggested bartering with them and trying to exchange what they have in their mouth for a tasty treat before they swallow it. In an extreme circumstance when a dog may be choking he advises “first of all, check inside the dog's mouth if they're happy to, try not to put the fingers to the back of the throat because you can actually push whatever it is even further in.”
If the food is visible you can remove it with “tongs or tweezers” and if you have a small dog the vet suggests lifting them up by their back legs or hips and have gravity help dislodge whatever it is stuck.
Skinless and boneless white meat such as turkey is okay for dogs and cats, but be careful that it's not covered in fat, salt or gravy. Your pets should stick to their normal food.
