🎄 Christmas Foods You Should Never Give Your Dog

🌟 A Festive Warning for Dog Lovers

Christmas is a time for indulgence – decadent dinners, sweet treats, and endless leftovers. But while we enjoy our festive feasts, many of the foods on our plates are dangerous or toxic to dogs.

At Lap of Luxury, we’re all about giving pets the safest, happiest life possible. So before you slip your furry best friend a Christmas nibble, here’s what you must keep off their menu.

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1. Chocolate

Chocolate is toxic to dogs due to theobromine, and the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. Even small amounts can cause:

• Vomiting

• Rapid heart rate

• Seizures

Tip: Keep chocolate coins, advent calendars, Yule logs, and boxed chocolates out of reach.

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2. Christmas Pudding, Cake & Mince Pies

These festive treats contain raisins, currants and sultanas – all of which can cause kidney failure in dogs.

Symptoms may take hours to appear but can be severe.

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3. Onions, Garlic, Leeks & Chives

Found in stuffing, gravy, and many Christmas dishes, these ingredients can damage a dog’s red blood cells, leading to anaemia.

Even powdered forms are harmful.

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4. Alcohol & Alcohol-Based Foods

Christmas desserts often contain spirits or liqueurs. Dogs can suffer from:

• Low blood sugar

• Vomiting

• Difficulty breathing

• Coma

Even seemingly harmless foods like Christmas pudding or sherry trifle are unsafe.

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5. Bones (Especially Cooked Bones)

Turkey and chicken bones can splinter, causing:

• Choking

• Internal bleeding

• Blockages

Raw bones = sometimes okay under supervision

Cooked bones = never safe.

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6. Grapes

A single grape can be toxic to dogs.

Symptoms include:

• Vomiting

• Lethargy

• Kidney failure

Keep fruit bowls far from curious noses.

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7. Nuts (Especially Macadamia Nuts)

Macadamia nuts can cause:

• Weakness

• Tremors

• Fever

Other nuts are high-fat and can lead to pancreatitis.

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8. Blue Cheese

Contains roquefortine C, which can trigger muscle tremors and seizures in dogs.

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9. Artificial Sweeteners (Xylitol)

Found in sugar-free sweets, syrups, and baked goods.

Even tiny amounts cause rapid insulin release → dangerous drops in blood sugar.

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10. Fatty Leftovers

Skin, crackling, and fatty cuts may seem like a treat, but they can cause pancreatitis, a painful and sometimes fatal condition.

🎁 Safe & Festive Alternatives

Instead of sharing your Christmas dinner, try these dog-friendly treats:

• Plain cooked turkey (no bones, no seasoning)

• Carrot sticks

• Green beans

• Dog-safe Christmas biscuits or chews

• A new toy to distract them from the food table!

🐶 Final Thoughts

Christmas should be joyful for the whole family – including the four-legged members. Staying mindful of what foods are dangerous helps keep your dog safe, healthy, and full of festive cheer.

At Lap of Luxury, our mission is to help pets live their best lives, every day of the year.

From all of us at Lap of Luxury, we wish you and your four-legged family a very Merry Christmas, a safe and cosy holiday season, and a New Year filled with wagging tails and joyful moments. 🎄🐾