Christmas day is one of the most exciting days in a calendar year for most families, it is a day to look forward to for many reasons; spending time with family, giving and receiving gifts, and of course Christmas dinner! Your dog is a part of the family, and including them in your Christmas Day routine is important, but what about Christmas dinner? Ensuring your dog enjoys their Christmas day without upsetting their tummy is ideal, so it is important owners know what food is ok for their dog to eat, and what foods should be avoided as they are likely to make them ill from their Christmas dinner plate.
Can dogs eat Christmas dinner?
You, as a dog owner, will know your four-legged friend better than anyone, especially what food they like and what food can upset their stomach. But most dogs can enjoy some of your food, and this includes elements of your Christmas Dinner, in moderation. Many of us on Christmas Day tend to eat a lot more and larger portions than we would usually, however, it is important not to do so for your dog. If you want to treat them then we would recommend doing so with a new toy or take them on a walk on a new route to stimulate them. Feeding them a large Christmas dinner may lead to over-consumption of calories, wind, stomach pain or even sickness – these things are unlikely to be welcomed by any dog owners, let alone on Christmas Day.
What can dogs eat from Christmas dinner?
Though we may not recommend feeding your dog large portions, it is fine to feed them their ordinary portion size of certain parts of your Christmas dinner as a treat. Here are a list of foods that are safe for your dog to eat that may be part of your Christmas dinner plans:
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Plain boiled or steamed green beans, Brussel sprouts and broccoli without sauce.
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Lean, white, and boneless sections of the turkey (darker meat can be too rich for dogs).
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Mashed potatoes without butter, salt or onions added.
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Plain boiled carrots or parsnips without any glazes (such as honey).
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Boiled, steamed or mushy peas.
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Boiled or raw spinach.
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Plain cooked cauliflower without sauce (such as cheese).
Please ensure you feed your dog an appropriate portion sized based on their breed and size. A little treat will be more than welcomed by them, whereas over-feeding could cause issues.
What can dogs eat at Christmas?
At Lords & Labradors, we understand the importance of treating your loved ones during the festive season. Whether it is a gift, food or drink its important to show those around us that we appreciate them, and this includes your dog! Buying treats for your own, family or friends’ dog is something many canine owners like to do. Why not browse our Christmas dinner collection to see our festive themed range of treats and food?
What not to feed dogs at Christmas
Some food that we eat regularly can obviously be harmful to dogs, whether this is due to choking hazards or maybe because they are just poisonous to dogs. Whatever the reason it is important to know what NOT to feed your dog, especially during the festive period where the temptation to treat your dog is higher than ever. Below are some foods that we strongly advise against feeding your dog:
- Any bones in meat – these are an obvious choking hazard for dogs, as well as cooked bones having a big risk of splintering, if swallowed they can cause major issues such as internal tears that can be very problematic and potentially fatal for dogs.
- Onions, leeks, shallots, and garlic – these are all toxic to dogs. Ensure your dog does not consume food containing any of these, such as onion gravy or stuffing.
- Any alcoholic drinks or food containing alcohol – again this can be harmful to dogs as it is poisonous to them.
- Chocolate – another poisonous ingredient for dogs.
- Mincemeat, currants, raisins, and sultanas – mince pies, Christmas puddings and other festive desserts will be off limits as they are toxic to dogs.
- Sweets - Sweets contain lots of chemicals and additives such as Xylitol which is toxic to dogs
If in doubt whether your dog is allowed a particular food then it's best to avoid, we'd hate for any of your precious pooches to be poorly this festive season! Have a pawsome Christmas from team L&L