Vets warn: Human Christmas foods are toxic and potentially fatal to dogs

With a shortage of vets nationally and emergency veterinary hospitals already at capacity, vets are urging the public not to allow their pets to consume any human Christmas foods, as even small amounts can be toxic and potentially fatal.

The Animal Emergency Centre say that each year over Christmas they see a surge in emergency cases due to the ingestion of foods dogs cannot eat.

Last year AEC recorded a 20 per cent increase in toxicity cases which required emesis over the festive period and anticipate that number will rise significantly this year with the continuing rise in pet ownership.

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Dr Adam Sternberg, Regional Clinical Director at Greencross Vets, says pet parents love to spoil their pets at Christmas and assume feeding them some of their festive foods is okay, however this is not the case.

"Certain ingredients that are seemingly healthy and completely safe for humans to consume, such as onion, garlic, chocolate and Christmas pudding among others, are so toxic to dogs that they can become very unwell and in severe cases, can be fatal," he said.

"Each year the emergency vets in our network see an influx of pets in hospitals that have consumed some of their well-meaning pet parent's foods.

"If you have a much-loved pet that you want to show your love to this Christmas, please think twice before you share your food with them and explore the many options of festive treats that are designed specifically for pets."

Many loving families often want to offer their pet a special Christmas meal, however, common Christmas roast ingredients like onion and garlic which are usually in glazing, stuffing and seasoning, are poison to dogs. Skin, rich gravy, cooked bones and fat trimmings can contribute to upset tummies and painful pancreatitis.

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This can result in hospitalisation and be deadly to pets. It's best to avoid these human foods and give pets a human-grade vet approved meal made for dogs instead.

Most Christmas puddings contain sultanas, raisins or currants which are all toxic to dogs and can lead to kidney failure. Many Christmas desserts and cakes may also be alcohol-based which pets cannot consume even in small quantities.

There are plenty of baked treats available that closely resemble human foods, including cookies, cake pops and truffles, offering pet-friendly alternatives to festive foods which are usually toxic to dogs.

All kinds of chocolate contain an ingredient called theobromine that is toxic to pets. Chocolate toxicity could cause a wide range of problems, with severe cases causing seizures, heart issues and even death. The more bitter the chocolate, the higher the risk. That doesn't mean dogs have to miss out! There are plenty of festive dog-approved carob treats, or you can even get your pet a Christmas stocking so they can enjoy the same traditions as the rest of the family!