For many of us, December brings thoughts of preparations, decorations and yummy treats for Christmas. It really can be such a lovely time of year, and the last thing you want is a poorly pet.

In vet practices, we tend to see a spike in upset tummy and toxicity cases in our patients in December. I thought now would therefore be a good time to highlight a few of the most common culprits, so they can hopefully be avoided.

Chocolate
Perhaps the most widely known danger to our pets as it contains theobromine and caffeine, which can affect the nervous system and heart. Despite many people knowing they shouldn’t feed it to pets, we still see cases of chocolate ingestion regularly because it tends to be more accessible for pinching at this time of year. Think advent calendars, open tubs left on coffee tables, confectionery gifts wrapped up under the tree and being sniffed out. If you discover your dog or cat has eaten some, please contact your vet for advice and have the details of the type of chocolate and approximate amount eaten, at the ready.

Eating more rich food than usual
For many pets used to their normal diet, suddenly having a lot of something like a roast dinner can cause a very upset tummy. Bones (especially cooked ones) can cause damage or obstruction in the intestine, too. For most healthy pets, a small amount of cooked lean meat (chicken breast or turkey) added to their meal is a safe treat for a special occasion – but try not to overdo it.

Hidden dangers
Foods containing raisins, sultanas, sweeteners or onion (e.g. in gravy or stuffing) can be very dangerous if consumed by our pets. Please contact your vet urgently if you have concerns your pet may have eaten any of these.

Decorations
Cats, especially, cannot resist playing with decorations, and things like tinsel and string can cause real problems if eaten.

Plants
Poinsettia, pine needles, holly and ivy can all be irritants if consumed.

Wishing you and your pets a very happy and safe Christmas from us all at Dragon Vets!