The Christmas season is a time for family gatherings and reunions. This is the season for sharing special gifts and preparing fun celebrations for family and friends. But aside from having quality time with your family, Christmas is also the perfect time for pet owners to make their pets feel that they are loved and cherished like a family member. As dedicated owners, it is their goal to make their pets enjoy the holiday season as much as they do. So aside from giving them gifts, they also “stuff” their furry pals with food that they think would make their pet really happy.

It is certainly not wrong to feed your pets with lots of healthy food especially during Christmas because, they, too, should make the most out of this season. But the problem lies on the fact that most pet owners fail to realize the hazard that they can give their pets if they do not feed them right. A rule of thumb that any pet owner must remember is that not all human food can be good for your pet dog. That is why there are lots of specially packed dog food or pet food that are sold from your local supermarkets, local pet stores or even on online pet stores. These kinds of food are specifically manufactured to meet the nutrient needs of your pets. Some pet owners have the habit of feeding their dogs with left-over food from Christmas parties and celebrations. This should be avoided because some of these foods can cause severe damage to your dog’s digestive system.

“There are some foods that we indulge in over the Christmas period that are just not good for our cats and dogs”, according to Dr. Mark Lawrie of the AVA (Australian Veterinary Association). The fact is when we give our pets lots of these left-over foods, we are not actually giving them any treat at all but rather a possibility of being treated for any gastro malfunction. Dr. Lawrie also stressed that chocolates, particularly dark chocolate can cause an increase in thirst and urination. It can also cause your dog to have an increased heart beat, tremors and seizures which in extreme cases can cause death.

Furthermore, cooked bones are not also good for pets. This is because during the cooking process, the chemical structure of the bone can change which can make it very difficult for your pets’ stomach juices to break down. Also, too much fat from cooked meat like pork and lamb, and macadamia nuts can be hazardous to your dog’s health. Too much of these foods can even cause death. So always make sure that you feed your dogs right. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you only buy food products that are specially made for your pets to avoid any unwanted vet visit during Christmas.