10 Christmas foods that are toxic for your pets – plus warning signs to look out for

As Christmas day draws closer, many of us will already be sneaking a taste of our favourite festive snacks.

By Jon Peake

Published 20th Dec 2022, 16:58 GMT

And with a lot of food thrown away over the Christmas period, you may be tempted to treat your pets to some of the leftovers.

However, some common Christmas foods can actually make our pets seriously ill, so it is important to know which ones should be avoided.

Even if your cat or dog has only eaten a small amount of these foods, it's important to do the following:

Call the vet straight away - Don’t wait for your pet to start showing symptoms. A vet will be able to offer advice, and the quicker you act, the better chance your pet will have of recovery.

Note the time and quantity of food ingested – Provide the vet with as much information as you can. This includes the time your pet ate the unsafe food, brand names, the ingredient list and how much you think they consumed

Don’t try to make your pet sick – Attempting this can cause further health complications. Leave this to your vet, as they are trained to do this in a safe manner.

Animal health specialists at OurFitPets have put together a list of common Christmas foods that can cause serious health problems for cats and dogs, as well as advice on what you should do if your furry friend accidentally eats any of these foods.

They are ...

Make sure your pets avoid the foods below as they can be harmful

1. Keep your pets safe this Christmas

Make sure your pets avoid the foods below as they can be harmful Photo: Adobestock

Christmas pudding contains dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas and currents, all of which are particularly toxic for cats and dogs and can cause kidney failure if consumed. Signs that your pet has poisoning from these foods include vomiting, increased thirst and urinating less frequently than normal.

2. Christmas pudding

Christmas pudding contains dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas and currents, all of which are particularly toxic for cats and dogs and can cause kidney failure if consumed. Signs that your pet has poisoning from these foods include vomiting, increased thirst and urinating less frequently than normal. Photo: Maksim Shebeko - stock.adobe.com

As with Christmas pudding, mince pies contains dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas and currents, all of which are particularly toxic for cats and dogs.

3. Mince pies

As with Christmas pudding, mince pies contains dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas and currents, all of which are particularly toxic for cats and dogs. Photo: grinchh - stock.adobe.com

Any foods that contain vegetables of the allium variety should be off the menu for cats or dogs. This includes fresh and powered forms of aromatics such as onions, garlic, shallots, leeks and chives, which are frequently found in Christmas stuffing and gravy. These vegetables all contain a compound called N-propyl disulfide which is damaging to your pet’s red blood cells and can cause them to develop anaemia. Signs of allium poisoning in pets includes diarrhoea, stomach pain, as well as presenting as fatigued, weak or off their regular food.

4. Sage and onion stuffing

Any foods that contain vegetables of the allium variety should be off the menu for cats or dogs. This includes fresh and powered forms of aromatics such as onions, garlic, shallots, leeks and chives, which are frequently found in Christmas stuffing and gravy. These vegetables all contain a compound called N-propyl disulfide which is damaging to your pet’s red blood cells and can cause them to develop anaemia. Signs of allium poisoning in pets includes diarrhoea, stomach pain, as well as presenting as fatigued, weak or off their regular food. Photo: Joe Gough - stock.adobe.com

As with sage and onion stuffing, onion gravy can contain vegetables of the allium variety and should be avoided at all costs.

5. Onion gravy

As with sage and onion stuffing, onion gravy can contain vegetables of the allium variety and should be avoided at all costs. Photo: fahrwasser - stock.adobe.com

While it's not fully understood why Macadamia nuts are unsafe for domestic animals, consuming them can cause your cat or dog to appear weak or sleepy and can cause painful or stiff joints that may make it difficult for them to walk.This variety of nut can also induce vomiting, tremors and raised body temperature for up to two days.

6. Macadamia nuts

While it's not fully understood why Macadamia nuts are unsafe for domestic animals, consuming them can cause your cat or dog to appear weak or sleepy and can cause painful or stiff joints that may make it difficult for them to walk.This variety of nut can also induce vomiting, tremors and raised body temperature for up to two days. Photo: Nataliya Arzamasova