Mars Petcare, the company behind food brands Pedigree, Cesar, Sheba and Whiskas, is reminding owners to keep an eye on their pets this Christmas to avoid an unscheduled visit to the vets.

According to Mars, Christmas is a classic time of the year for dogs to get in trouble with chocolate. Wrapped boxes of sweet treats under the tree are often sniffed out and opened by dogs. But, while it’s a treat for us, chocolate contains theobromine, which is extremely poisonous for dogs, so should be avoided.

Raisins are a key ingredient for many of our festive desserts, but are actually poisonous for dogs and can cause acute kidney failure.  

A quarter of all owners give their dog gravy at least once a week, and this is likely to be even higher as families tuck in to Christmas lunches. However, what many don’t realise is that onions and garlic, which are often part of homemade gravy, can be harmful to dogs and cause anaemia. 

And Mars Petcare warn owners to keep an eye on those festive favourites ‘pigs in blankets’. 11% of owners already feed their dogs sausages at least once a week and this might increase during the Christmas period. While sausages aren’t poisonous, the high calorie content in them can be a problem when it comes to keeping your dog’s weight in check. Also cocktail sticks holding them together can be a serious risk of injury.

Also watch out for grapes rolling off the cheese board and on to the floor to be gobbled up by your dog, as like raisins, grapes are poisonous for our canine friends.
 
“There’s nothing wrong with the odd treat here and there – especially at Christmas, it’s just important to remember that some foods are poisonous and also that overfeeding is just as bad for pets as it is for humans," says Sherrie Rowlands, Corporate Affairs Manager, Mars Petcare.

"Pets are part of the family, so it’s natural to include them in the festivities but owners can treat dogs to pet-specific Christmas goodies or spend more time with them and take them for an extra-long walk, which would be good for both you and your dog over the festive season!”

Mars Petcare are urging owners to give dogs a treat of their own, like the Pedigree Christmas Stocking, which includes a toy and a range of treats.