As the holiday season is quickly approaching, we all want to involve our four-legged friends in the festivities – and we are here to ensure you all have a safe and paw-some festive season!

As many of you are already aware, there are a huge number of foods that are safe for your dog, but there are also many that are dangerous for your four-legged friend, and we want every pawrent to be aware of these as the festive season approaches.

However, we want everyone to be mindful that these safe and unsafe foods are dependent on the breed of dog you have. Please do thorough research on your canine’s breed before deciding to feed them any of these foods or speak with your vet.

We have compiled a list of safe and unsafe foods, so you can treat your dog this festive season while still ensuring that they are as safe as possible!

Cinnamon – Avoid!

Cinnamon is one food to avoid when feeding your pup. It can lower their blood sugar and can lead to diarrhea, vomiting and even liver disease in some cases. Furthermore, cinnamon and its oils can irritate your dog's mouth, making them uncomfortable or sick.

Pork – Yes!

You can most definitely give your dog some pork this festive season. It is a highly digestible protein and is packed with amino acids. Pork also contains more calories than other meats – but maybe keep an eye on this if you have a dog that is prone to putting on weight!

Turkey – Yes!

Turkey is okay for dogs to eat but make sure to thoroughly check the turkey for potential bones that could cause blockages or digestion issues when consumed by your four-legged friend. Also make sure the fat is removed from the turkey, and it is served plain, without garlic or seasonings.

Chocolate – Avoid!

This is a better-known food to avoid, but chocolate contains toxic substances that can stop a dog's metabolic processes. Even small amounts of chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhea – and large quantities can cause death in some cases. Make sure that all your chocolate treats are stored well away from your pup this festive season!

Cabbage – Yes!

Cabbage is a good food to feed in small quantities. It can help with your dog's digestion and is good for their skin health. However, it can cause gas with your pup – so small quantities are ideal!

Onions – Avoid!

We covered this when talking about feeding your dog turkey, and onions are definitely one to be avoided with your four-legged friend. Onions can cause vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea in your dog – and in some cases they can make the red blood cells rupture. Keep these away from your dog!

Carrots – Yes!

Carrots can be given to your dog but in small amounts as they are quite high in sugar. However, they are also high in fibre and contain beta-carotene, which produces Vitamin A. They are a great choice for your dog if you want to give them human food!

Garlic – Avoid!

Also touched on when discussing feeding your dog turkey, garlic is a definite avoid food for your dog. Garlic can create anemia in dogs, and can cause an elevated heart rate, weakness and can cause dogs to collapse. It is so important to keep any food containing garlic away from your pup.

Almonds – Avoid!

Although almonds are not the most toxic nut you could give your dog, they are definitely far from good for them. Almonds can potentially block your dog's throat or tear their windpipe if they are not chewed sufficiently. Also, salted almonds can increase water retention with your pup and can be fatal – especially in breeds that are prone to heart disease.

Ham – Yes!

Ham is an okay option to give your dog this festive period, however it isn’t the healthiest meat option as ham is quite high in sodium and fat. It isn’t toxic to dogs, but it’s best to feed your dog ham in small quantities and infrequently.

At Brandy Dog Food, we want this upcoming festive period to be as enjoyable for both pup and pawrent – we hope you found this guide helpful for understanding what human food to feed your dog!

If you would like more information on what foods are safe and unsafe for your dog, be sure to check out these links!

American Kennel Club - https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/human-foods-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/

Blue Cross - https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/can-dogs-eat-apples-grapes-potatoes-and-other-fruit-and-veg

PetMD - https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/what-vegetables-can-dogs-eat