If you enjoy including your pet in the Christmas Day festivities, check out this list that our team has compiled of Naughty vs Nice Christmas foods for dogs and cats!
Unless your pet has previously been diagnosed with special dietary requirements, it should be safe to sample foods from the “Nice” list in limited amounts. Just resist the temptation to let them gorge themselves, as they could still end up with an upset tummy due to a sudden dietary change!
Avoid giving your pet access to foods from the “Naughty” list, as these can be harmful or toxic.
“Nice” Christmas foods for pets
- Lean cuts of cooked, boneless salmon fillet
- Lean cuts of cooked turkey, e.g. breast meat (without any stuffing)
- Cooked vegetables such as carrots, peas, green beans, pumpkin, or sweet potato
- Cut cubes of pitted peaches, nectarines, and mangoes, berries such as blueberries and strawberries, and slices of apple, banana, pear, and watermelon
“Naughty” Christmas foods for pets
Very fatty cuts of meat:
Fatty cuts include ham, dark turkey meat, or sausages. These can trigger painful inflammation of the pancreas in some pets.
Cooked bones:
Cooked bones can cause tooth breakages, gut damage, or severe constipation.
Chocolate:
Quantities of chocolate can cause gut upset and potentially fatal seizures or heart problems.
Xylitol-sweetened foods:
Xylitol can cause dangerously low blood sugar and severe liver damage.
Cherries:
Cherry pits and stems are toxic to pets in large quantities.
Whole stone fruits:
Stone fruit pits can cause gut obstruction if swallowed.
Grapes or raisins:
Grapes and raisins can cause potentially fatal kidney damage.
Onions or garlic:
Onions and garlic can both be toxic to pets.
If you have any other questions about safe Christmas treats for your pet, consult our seasonally-savvy team!