Don’t Let Christmas Dinner Kill Your Dog
As a nation of pet lovers, Brits naturally spend Christmas spoiling their pets as well as loved ones. Yet pet insurance provider Petguard.co.uk and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home are warning pet owners that they could be risking killing their four legged friends with kindness, by feeding them potentially life threatening left overs from Christmas dinner.
Britain will spend over £1.6 billion on food and drink this Christmas, but many of the 11 million cat or dog owners in the UK are unaware of the potential dangers that Christmas classics such as mince pies, Christmas cake and even the Turkey roast, can hold for their pets.
The top Christmas dinner sinners include:
· Mince pies and Christmas cake –the sultanas and raisins used in these festive treats can cause painful kidney problems for pets
· Turkey bones – sharp edges on poultry bones can lacerate the lining of a dog’s digestive tract
· ‘Pigs in Blankets’ – fatty and salty meats such as pork can can lead to a potentially life threatening condition pancreatitis
· Stuffing – the onions used in stuffing can weaken your pet’s red blood cells causing long term damage to their health
· Nutmeg – this popular Christmas spice, often used in cranberry sauce and dessert dishes is potentially toxic for pets
· Chocolate – is extremely poisonous to dogs and vets have reported that in some cases smaller dogs have died from eating just a few bites.
James Pickering, managing director of Petguard.co.uk said: “Unfortunately Christmas can be fraught with unforeseen danger for the nation’s pets and we traditionally see a spike in claims during the festive period.
This is not to say that pet owners should forget tasty treats all together, but just be mindful when they are stocking up on those last minute culinary essentials this week, that pet friendly treats would be a good addition to the shopping basket – it could end up saving you from a stressful Christmas and costly trips to the vet.”
Petguard has been designed to add speed and simplicity to the pet insurance process by allowing pet owners to get an online quote in six simple steps, taking just 30 seconds. With eight vet fees cover options available, all policies offer quick treatment, with no need to consult Petguard first if an animal is referred for specialist treatment by a vet.
The world famous Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has launched a healthy eating factsheet in a bid to encourage owners to watch their pets’ waistlines this Christmas.
Shaun Opperman, Head Vet at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, said,
“Christmas is a time of over-indulgence and it can be easy to give into your pet’s big, pleading eyes and feed him a piece of cake here and a biscuit there. In fact, an average sized healthy Labrador needs roughly 1,500 calories per day – so if you’re feeding him human biscuits and cakes he will quickly ingest far more calories than he needs.
“The fat content of these foods is also very high, and not suitable for dogs’ digestive systems.
Some human food can be poisonous to animals, such as chocolate, grapes and onions for dogs and cream for cats.”
“We understand that pet owners will want to treat their dogs and cats at Christmas, but treats should be given in moderation. Your dog or cat will be more than happy with a piece of leftover turkey breast after you’ve had your Christmas lunch. He does not need cakes and chocolates to make him feel loved!”
Every year Battersea Dogs & Cats Home takes in obese animals who have been fed too much of the wrong food by their owners. Dogs like Henry the Labrador who came into Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Old Windsor in August 2007 weighing in at a massive 71kgs – twice his ideal weight. Henry was put on a strict diet in his foster home and left to go to his new home seven months later weighing a whole Labrador less at 35kgs.
For more information please visit www.battersea.org.uk
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