Dog trainer Paul Haylock has urged dog owners to keep eight different festive foods and ingredients away from their pups in order to avoid any fatal accidents this Christmas
A dog trainer has urged households with dogs to be extra cautious when starting to eat festive foods, as there are several things that are toxic for our pups to eat.
As the festive season is upon us, many people will start to indulge in foods and meals they might not normally be eating. Because of this, it’s important to know if any of these foods are suitable for your pets to eat, or if you need to stay extra vigilant to make sure they don’t eat something they shouldn’t and risk a visit to the vet. To help, one dog trainer has shared a list of eight festive foods that you should keep away from your dog.
Paul Haylock, from Paul Haylock Dog training in Benfleet, Essex, has taken to TikTok to share a list of eight foods he’s urging all dog owners to keep away from their dogs, as it could lead to fatal accidents.
“Did you know these foods are extremely toxic to dog?” they wrote on the video before jumping in to share his list.
Chocolate
“The first one is pretty obvious, most of us are aware that chocolate is toxic to our dogs, and it’s a chemical called theobromine, and it will cause sickness and diarrhoea,” Paul explained.
This is processed too slowly by a dog’s system, leading to a build-up that can cause symptoms ranging from vomiting and diarrhoea to seizures and even death in severe cases.
The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is due to higher levels of theobromine, with cocoa powder and baker’s chocolate being the most toxic.
Mince pies
“Number two is mince pies,” he revealed next. “And that is the sultanas and raisins that are extremely toxic in small amounts, and will cause kidney failure.”
Raisins, grapes, sultanas, and currants can lead to acute kidney failure and even death in dogs. Even a small amount can cause severe problems for them.
In addition to toxic raisins, mince pies may contain lots of fat and sugar, which can cause stomach upset in dogs. Other ingredients, such as chocolate or sugar substitute xylitol, found in some mince pies, are also highly toxic to dogs. If your dog has eaten a mince pie, you should contact your vet immediately for advice, even if they don’t seem ill, according to Vets Now.
Blue cheese & grapes
While many might love to indulge in a cheese board at Christmas, Paul went on to reveal that there are certain things on a cheese board you need to be vary of if you have a dog.
“From your cheese board, we’ve got blue cheese and grapes,” Paul revealed.
Just like with mince pies, grapes are very toxic to dogs, even in smaller amounts, and can cause acute kidney failure and even death if indigested. The exact toxic compound is unknown, but research suggests it may be tartaric acid. Signs of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, abdominal pain, and excessive thirst
Meanwhile, blue cheese contains a fungus that can produce a toxin called roquefortine C, which is harmful to dogs and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors, and seizures.
Xylitol
Next up, Paul said to be vary of xylitol, which is a sweetener that’s often used in sweet treats, and urged dog owners to be mindful of it and keep any treats away from their reach.
Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs because it causes a sudden and dangerous drop in blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) and can lead to liver failure. Even small amounts of xylitol can be deadly, especially for smaller dogs.
Symptoms like vomiting, weakness, and seizures can appear within 30 minutes, and if you suspect your dog has ingested xylitol, contact a vet immediately.
Avocado
“And we’ve also got avocado, that is another one that’s extremely toxic to your dogs” he said.
All parts of the avocado, including the skin, flesh, and pit, contain a fungicidal toxin called persin, which are toxic to dogs as well as other animals. While dogs are more resistant to persin than other animals, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Additionally, the high fat content can lead to gastrointestinal upset or serious pancreatitis, and the pit poses a choking or obstruction hazard.
Garlic and onion
“And the last one to focus on is garlic and onions, either cooked or raw,” he said. “So, thinking about stuffing, things like that, again, extremely toxic to your dogs.”
Onions, garlic, and leeks are toxic to dogs, causing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, reduced appetite, and potentially anaemia, according to PDSA. Symptoms can start within 24 hours after eating onion, garlic or leeks but more commonly take a few days to appear.
“So, just be mindful this Christmas when you’re tucking into these things, we don’t want your dogs getting hold of them,” he told viewers.
