As families across the UK prepare for festive feasts, a leading veterinary professional has issued a crucial reminder to keep celebratory treats well away from curious pets. The warning highlights several common Christmas items that can pose serious health risks to dogs, cats, and other animals.
Expert Issues Festive Food Alert
Jade The Vet Nurse, a registered veterinary nurse with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and an RSPCA ambassador, used her popular social media platform to spread the vital message. In a recent video on TikTok, where she shares first-aid and animal care advice as @Jade.the.vet.nurse, she listed the hazardous items.
Her caption urged owners: "Toxic or harmful foods to keep away from your pets this Christmas. If your pets eat any of these foods/items, please contact your Vet or the UK veterinary poisons line immediately for advice."
The Dangerous Festive Seven
The expert's list of foods and items to guard against includes several Christmas staples. Pet owners are advised to be vigilant about the following:
- Christmas cake, Panettone, and mince pies: These contain raisins, which are toxic to dogs and cats.
- Chocolate: Contains theobromine, a substance safe for humans but poisonous to pets.
- Alcohol: Even small amounts can be dangerous.
- Macadamia nuts: Known to cause illness in dogs.
- Blue cheese: Can contain roquefortine C, which may cause poisoning.
- Salt dough tree decorations: Attractive to pets but high in dangerous salt.
- Cooked bones: A major choking and internal injury hazard.
Understanding the Specific Risks
The veterinary charity PDSA emphasises the severe danger of chocolate. The toxicity depends on the amount eaten, the size of the pet, and the cocoa content—darker chocolate is more toxic. If ingestion occurs, contacting a vet immediately and keeping the packaging is critical.
Regarding festive baked goods, experts from the Cape Veterinary Clinic warn that the toxicity of raisins found in mince pies and Christmas cakes is not dose-dependent. Even a single raisin can potentially cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and kidney failure, requiring urgent veterinary treatment.
Cooked bones are a particular concern. According to Pet MD, cooked bones splinter more easily than raw ones, creating sharp shards that can choke an animal or pierce its digestive tract, leading to severe internal damage.
With celebrations centred around food, Jade The Vet Nurse's timely warning serves as an essential guide for responsible pet ownership during the holidays. Ensuring these items are stored securely and educating all household guests can help prevent emergency trips to the vet and ensure a safe and happy Christmas for every member of the family, including the furry ones.
