Guide to a safe Christmas for our furry friends

Christmas is a season of experiences for all senses: an abundance of delicious food, sweets, and exciting gifts. However, some of the delicacies and mood enhancers of Christmas come with risks for our dogs and cats. In this article, the Petgood veterinary team shares tips on what pet owners should consider and suggests alternatives, ensuring our furry companions also have a delicious and cozy holiday celebration!

Cocoa - a well-known danger

The toxicity of chocolate for dogs and cats is widely known. Despite this, cases of chocolate poisoning almost always increase during the Christmas season. Remember, the toxic element is present in cocoa, so it's not just the chocolate bar that should be kept out of reach, but all Christmas candies and pastries containing cocoa. The higher the cocoa content (and the smaller the body weight), the greater the risk of poisoning. Always call and consult your veterinarian as soon as possible if your dog or cat has ingested cocoa.

Watch out for raisins, nuts, and Christmas food

Raisins are present in many of the Christmas buns and bread and can cause acute kidney failure in dogs and cats. Therefore, do not offer your pets anything with raisins, and make sure to keep the packaging safely away when baking saffron buns. If the dog or cat consumes fermenting dough, there's a risk of an upset stomach, and when baking with nuts, keep a vigilant eye as their stomachs cannot digest nuts properly.

Indulging excessively in Christmas food can also cause upset stomachs for dogs or cats. The main culprit is high levels of fat, and besides being fatty, Christmas food is often very salty. Many dishes contain varying amounts of onions, which are toxic to both dogs and cats and can cause anemia. Limit the amount of Christmas food you allow your furry friends to taste, and avoid the fattiest and saltiest pieces.

Gift ribbons and glitter pose a danger to cats

Ribbons and glitter that get stuck in the intestines pose a risk, especially for cats, who are very attracted to anything resembling a string and often chew on them. Strings can cause intestinal damage, and there have been cases where they get tangled around the tongue or in the throat of the animal. Even puppies taste everything, and the grandchildren's newly opened Christmas present can easily be mistaken for a fun chew toy for the puppy. Always contact your veterinarian for advice if your dog or cat has ingested something inappropriate.

Healthy and delicious Christmas gifts for our furry friends

Of course, one would like to treat their furry companions to something extra special during the holiday season. So why not get something special for their very own Christmas table?

At Petgood, you can find the perfect treats to spoil your furry friend. Petgood's newly launched Bug Biscuit is perfect for the dog's Christmas; oven-baked dog biscuits with a festive taste of cinnamon. Or why not treat the dog to irresistibly tasty wet food instead of feasting on the Christmas ham? For the cat, Petgood offers insect-based cat treats, which with their scent and taste of catnip make the treats extra enticing—why not take out a few pieces and wrap them in small packages for the cat to open by itself?

These delicious snacks are not only great to offer instead of the meatball but also perfect as a gift for the friend celebrating Christmas with a cat or dog. Check out our website to learn more about the benefits of insects or explore our range for dogs and cats!