Canine Christmas Dinners - What’s safe from your plate and what’s not!

Canine Christmas Dinners - What’s safe from your plate and what’s not!

Our nutritionist offers the lowdown on treating your dog from the Christmas dinner table.

Turkey

Yes, they deserve this! Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without sharing some of the turkey with your dog too. They will adore the darker meat of the turkey closer to the bone, the meaty bits your family might turn up their noses at will likely be the meat your dog loves the most! No need to waste it at all.

Turkey Bones
Dogs benefit from raw bones but must never be fed cooked bones. Cooked bones are dry, often brittle and are known to cause digestive issues, or may even damage your dog’s mouth. Raw bones are full of moisture, chewy, flexible and have been part of wild dogs’ diets since the dawn of their evolution.

Brussel Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are safe for dogs to eat and dogs will usually digest them better if they are cooked. They are high in vitamins K and C, great for your dog’s immune system, for blood clotting, and bone health. The high vitamin C also ensures your dog can absorb lots of iron from the meat they eat.

Carrots or Caramelised Parsnips
Both parsnips and carrots are safe for dogs to eat, cooked. They are both higher in starches and sugars than Brussels sprouts though, so should be be fed in moderation.

Gravy
Gravy is safe for your dog to eat in small amounts, although it may often contain ingredients that are not great for them to consume. So, think moderation, and a Christmas Day treat only. Watch the salt levels are not too high in the gravy, and instant gravy will also often contain wheat, preservatives or colourings too which could affect your dog’s digestive system.


Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is safe in small amounts, but it could contain quite a bit of sugar which isn’t so good for dogs.
Cranberries themselves are in fact one of the best berries and fruits your dog could eat.
They contain unique anti-oxidant compounds that reduce inflammation and offer heart support.  Some of the rare compounds they contain also act to prevent bacteria such as E.coli from affecting your dog’s bladder and urinary tract. This is why the fantastic Cranimals powder is so wonderful for relieving UTIs (urinary tract infections).

Pigs in Blankets
Neither bacon or sausages are ideal for dogs, as even natural versions are often far too high in salts and preservatives and could affect their digestive systems.  A definite Christmas treat indeed! Of course, they will likely sniff these out first!


We wish you a fun and festive Christmas with your dog this year!

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