Christmas is a period of festivities, typically celebrated with plenty of delicious food and drinks. Yet, animal lovers are being urged to ensure ‘toxic’ seasonal treats remain beyond their pets’ reach.
Jade The Vet Nurse, who often shares first-aid demonstrations and animal healthcare tips on her TikTok account as @Jade.the.vet.nurse, has issued a warning. Jade is a UK-based veterinary nurse registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, as well as an ambassador, volunteer and fosterer for the RSPCA.
Posting on TikTok, Jade highlighted some of most common Christmas items that pose a risk to pets. Her list included a few common Christmas dinner favourites, reports the Mirror.
READ MORE: {{title}}
The expert warned: “Toxic or harmful foods to keep away from your pets this Christmas. If your pets eat any of these foods/items, please contact your Vet or the UK veterinary poisons line immediately for advice.”
Jade then listed several toxic or harmful foods that pet owners should be aware of. Her list included:
Christmas cake, Panettone, and mince pies
Chocolate
Alcohol
Macadamia nuts
Blue cheese
Salt dough tree decorations
Cooked bones
Human food and drink items could pose a risk to pets for different reasons, and owners should contact their vet about any health concerns. More information about some of the most popular Christmas food items can be found below.
Chocolate
Pet owners should never feed their animals chocolate, warned PDSA. According to the veterinary charity: “Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is perfectly safe for humans, but toxic for dogs, cats and rabbits.
“The seriousness of chocolate poisoning depends on how much chocolate your dog has eaten, how big they are, and the cocoa content of the chocolate – the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it’s likely to be.” If your pet has ingested chocolate, contact a veterinarian immediately and keep any packaging to show them.
Christmas cake, Panettone, and mince pies
Many people love finishing their Christmas dinner with a festive dessert, such as Christmas cake, Panettone, and mince pies. However, they should be kept away from pets. The Cape Veterinary Clinic explained: “Raisins are commonly found in Mince pies, Christmas cake, and Panettone, and they can be toxic to dogs and cats.
“The mechanism of the toxicity is unknown, but they have been known to cause vomiting, diarrhoea and kidney failure. The toxicity is not dose dependent, so we advise that even one raisin has the potential to cause issues, and your pet should be seen as soon as possible so that we can initiate treatment.”
Cooked bones
Pet MD said it’s not advised to give dogs cooked or raw bones. Bones pose several health risks to pets, as they can be a choking hazard, cause intestinal damage, and cause dental trauma, among other problems. Cooked bones are especially risky, the experts warned: “Cooked bones splinter more easily than raw bones, so they can present a choking hazard and break into small shards that can pierce the digestive tract.”
The RSPCA advised: “If you think your pet has eaten something poisonous, or you’re unsure if something they’ve eaten may be harmful, take them to your vet immediately. Not all poisons cause immediate symptoms.”
