A Dog-Friendly Christmas Dinner - And What You Should Avoid

With the big day getting closer and closer, you may be thinking about what you might want to treat your dog to while you are tucking into your own Christmas feast.

It can be worrying if you are unaware of the foods you shouldn't be giving your dog. 

This is why pet experts at PetLab have put together a guide on creating a healthy, harmless, and delicious Christmas dinner for your dog, alongside insight into which foods you should avoid giving to your furry friends.  

This guide is suitable for dogs above the age of four months old. If your pup is younger, you should only stick to your advised puppy food to avoid upsetting their stomach. 

Most of the meal should consist of meats and vegetables, which can be added to your dog's regular kibble; many other foods will leave your dog feeling sluggish and tired. 

If you are going to be serving up your pup some vegetables this year, the best way to cook them is just to boil them in a pan. There is no need to add salt or anything else to the water, and some veggies are safe to give your dog raw.  

Vegetables: 

Brussels Sprouts 

Brussels sprouts are a fantastic way to introduce to your dog as a healthy treat or in their Christmas dinner as they are rich in vitamins, extremely fibrous, and low in calories and fat.  

Broccoli  

Broccoli is extremely high in fibre and is a great provider of vitamins C and K, as well as potassium, sodium, and magnesium. The antioxidants inside broccoli are highly beneficial for your dog as they help fight against allergies, work to create a stronger immune system, improve cognitive functions, and improve joint health. 

Carrots  

Carrots are a great source of vitamin A, which has fantastic nutritional value for your pup. This vegetable promotes good eye health for your dog, improves their immune system, and works wonders to keep their coat healthy and shiny. 

You can also treat your dog to other vegetables, such as parsnips, peas, and plain potatoes, which you can put in either mashed or boiled. Just ensure you do NOT add extras like butter, salt or milk. 

Meat:  

The ideal meat to give your dog on the big day is either white turkey or chicken, which you must ensure is both boneless and skinless. Giving your pup either turkey or chicken skin can cause internal irritation and damage to your dog, as well as being extremely fatty and unhealthy. 

Pork products should only be given to your furry friend if they are lean cut, in small amounts and well cooked. Unfortunately, pigs in blankets are way too salty and fatty to feed your pup, no matter how tempting and tasty your dog might find them. 

Bone broth 

Nutritious bone broth is brilliant for dogs. It is also a great way to get your pup's health back on track if they are sick, as it offers a fantastic boost to their immune system and can be great if they are off solids from an upset stomach. 

Bone broth is packed with ideal nutrients and minerals, tastes yummy and will work to improve joint and gut health. Bone broths are also available in jelly form, which might add more texture to your dog's bowl. 

Foods you should avoid giving to dogs: 

Avoid onion (as well as leeks and shallots) – Vegetables in the onion family are highly toxic to dogs and should never be ingested. N-propyl disulphide is the poisonous compound in onion that causes so much damage to your dog by breaking down their red blood cells and causing anaemia.  

Avoid garlic – Garlic is poisonous to dogs due to the thiosulfate compound. Similar to onions, this compound will attack your dog's red blood cells, which are the primary carrier of oxygen in the body. This is why you should avoid giving your dog your leftovers, as there could be traces of these toxic foods on them.  

Avoid stuffing – Stuffing is highly inadvisable for dogs as it includes toxic ingredients for your pup. These ingredients include onion, chives, leeks, garlic, lots of sodium and salt, and other processed ingredients that will make your dog poorly if digested. 

Avoid gravy made for humans – Gravy produced for humans should be avoided as many gravies include high amounts of fat and salt. They can also contain traces and measurements of onion and garlic, which are toxic. 

A spokesperson from PetLab commented:

“There is no doubt that dogs our dogs are part of the family, and it is easy to get carried away with overloading your dog on treats, and leftover human foods. However, this can be extremely dangerous to your dog's health and could be detrimental in the long run. 

"This guide offers a fantastic insight into which Christmas foods are ok for dogs to enjoy on the big day, and the foods which are certainly a no go. If you want to make sure your pup stays happy and healthy, ensure you stick to avoiding anything such as onions, chives, leeks, shallots, stuffing and bacon!”