Avoid these toxic Christmas foods for dogs
One of the best things about Christmas is the food! Amazing lunches, roast dinners, BBQ’s and what seems like an endless supply of chocolate all make for a fantastic festive season.
But some of these foods are not so fantastic for your pets. So, with the silly season just around the corner, we thought we’d remind you of some foods to avoid to keep your dog safe so you can have an amazing end to, what can only be described as, a dog’s breakfast of a year!
Chocolate
Chocolate toxicity in dogs is very common during December so it’s important to keep all types of chocolate away from prying paws. Chocolate is toxic because it contains a chemical called theobromine, as well as caffeine. Theobromine is the predominant toxin in chocolate and is very similar to caffeine. Dogs cannot process this chemical and as such, they are heavily affected by it.
These are the symptoms of chocolate toxicity in dogs:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Increased thirst
Panting or restlessness
Excessive urination
Racing heart rate
In severe cases, muscle tremors, seizures, and heart failure can be seen. The type of chocolate, amount of chocolate and size of the dog can all determine how dangerous the situation is so make sure you remember all of these details when you call the vet.
Christmas Cakes, Puddings & Mince Pies
The culprit in these delicious desserts is raisins, currants and grapes. Grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure. It’s difficult to tell how much is toxic because every dog is different. Some dogs could consume a large amount and be fine while others could have one small raisin and go into kidney failure. It’s best to keep all of these desserts as far away from your dog as possible.
Onions, Shallots & Garlic
These ingredients contain a substance that damages red blood cells causing anaemia. We recommend avoiding giving your dog any leftovers of meals where you can’t be certain these ingredients haven’t been used.
Signs to watch out for include:
Weakness
Lethargy
Discoloured urine
Rapid breathing
Fatty & Processed Meats
If you think it’s ok to give your dog that piece of fat from your roast lamb or the last piece of Cabana, think again. These can give your dog an upset tummy and can cause pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can cause vomiting, nausea, dehydration, and worsening illness. It can even leave your dog with a lifelong sensitivity to fat, and they’ll have to be on a special diet for the rest of their lives!
Macadamia Nuts
It doesn’t after if they are consumed on their own or in a cake, macadamia nuts are extremely poisonous. The signs of macadamia nut poisoning include an inability to walk or stand, wobbly gait, tremors, hyperthermia, and vomiting. They can also cause a foreign body obstruction in smaller dogs.
Alcohol
Perhaps one of the most obvious “foods” to avoid is alcohol. Cats and dogs are highly sensitive to alcohol as it is absorbed more rapidly than in humans. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning in dogs include ataxia (walking wobbly), vomiting, decreased body temperature, loss of consciousness, or difficulty breathing.
If you suspect your dog has consumed any amount of these foods or alcohol, please contact us or if we’re closed, the Centre for Animal Referral and Emergency on 9417 6417.