If you like to feed your animals from the table. Please take note. These Christmas food are toxic for pets.

This advice is from the health specialists at OurFitPets. You or your guests might be tempted to treat pets to leftovers. However, not all foods are treats. They are more like tricks. Some can make your pets seriously ill.

Be mindful of what table scraps you feed your pets this holiday. Some are actually toxic to them.

What do to if food toxic for pets gets consumed

First of all, if you know your dog ate half of the turkey, don’t wait for him/her to get sick. Call your vet right away. Take note of the time and if can, try to determine how much was consumed. You know when you are sick and think, “maybe if I just make myself throw up” I’ll get it out and feel better. Don’t try that trick with your dog or cat. It could make things worse.

Next, you should know the symptoms. It’s possible you didn’t see your pet get into something they should not have. You probably pay enough attention to them to know if they are not feeling well. However, here are a few things to look for.

Signs of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, a more excitable mood or muscle twitching. In addition, elevated heart rate or breathing, tremors or twitching. Certain nuts can also cause vomiting, tremors and raised body temperature for up to two days. Allium poisoning can come from some vegetables. Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach pain, fatigue and weakness. 

When you serve food, it might be a good idea to keep pets away from the kitchen, in a separate room. Not all of your guests might be as cautious as you. Finally, keep that chocolate out of reach. These candies often hang on trees or sit on tables as advent calendars and are no good for your furry friends.

Here is the list of Christmas foods that are toxic for pets.

• Christmas pudding

  These common Christmas treats contain dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas and currents, all of which are particularly toxic for cats and dogs and can cause kidney failure if consumed.

• Mince Pies

  See above

• Sage and onion stuffing

  Any foods that contain vegetables of the allium variety should be off the menu for cats or dogs. This includes fresh and powered forms of aromatics such as onions, garlic, shallots, leeks and chives, which are frequently found in Christmas stuffing and gravy. 

  These vegetables all contain a compound called N-propyl disulfide which is damaging to your pet’s red blood cells and can cause them to develop anaemia. 

• Onion gravy

  See above.

   

• Chocolate

  Chocolate can be particularly toxic for cats and dogs as it contains a compound called theobromine, which animals can’t metabolise easily, and causes overstimulation of their muscles, including their heart. 

  Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are the worst offenders as they contain the highest levels of theobromine, while white chocolate is the least harmful as it contains only a small amount of the compound. Although it’s still not recommended giving your pets white chocolate, as the high levels of fat and sugar are still likely to upset their stomach.  

• Macadamia Nuts

  While it’s not fully understood why Macadamia nuts are unsafe for domestic animals, consuming them can cause your cat or dog to appear weak or sleepy and can cause painful or stiff joints that may make it difficult for them to walk.

• Blue Cheese

  Blue cheese such as Roquefort contain a compound called roquefortine C, which is known to cause muscle tremors and seizures in cats and dogs for up to two days. 

• moldy foods

  See above

• Alcohol

  Animals are more sensitive to the ethanol present in alcohol than humans are. Consumption of alcohol will cause your pet to become drowsy and unstable on their feet and at worst can cause a drop in body temperature and blood sugar, which can lead to seizures or a coma. 

• turkey bones and fat

  While not necessarily toxic to cats and dogs, turkey bones can be brittle which means there is a high chance of them splintering and lodging in your pet’s throat or stomach.

  Turkey fat and fatty foods in general, shouldn’t be given to pets in large quantities either, as they can cause stomach discomfort and diarrhoea.  

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