Can my dog have a Christmas Dinner?

What parts of a Christmas dinner are safe for dogs?

We want our dogs to celebrate with us at certain times of year, like Christmas, but giving them their own roast dinner or leftovers as a treat can quickly rack up the calories, or even give them a stomach upset. Some human food can even be dangerous to your dog so knowing the do’s and don’ts is essential to keep your dog safe and happy.

Giving your dog a little bit of your special roast dinner can seem like a great way to show them you love them and get them involved. But in reality, most dogs will be just as happy with the gift of a toy (new or rediscovered) or spending quality time with you!

If you are giving your dog a food treat, make sure you don’t give them too much. Even the smallest bit of human food is a big treat in your dog’s eyes, so no need to give them a full sized dinner! Take any treats into account by cutting down the amount of dog food in the rest of their meals for that day to balance out their daily calorie allowance.

Don’t forget that not all of our festive foods are dog-friendly! Some things we eat can be toxic to our dogs.

Dog-safe roast dinner

There’s no need to feed your dog a big meal on special occasions. A lot of the food we have at Christmas and other holidays isn’t the normal diet for your dog and can cause a bad stomach, which can be really uncomfortable. There are also lots of human foods that could make them seriously ill.

If you can’t resist giving them a titbit as a special treat then it’s good to know which parts of your roast dinner are potentially toxic and which are less likely to cause them problems.

One risk with feeding your dog part of your dinner is that they will come to expect this every time you have a roast and it can be difficult to resist those puppy-dog eyes. To avoid this, keep their treat aside until after the main event and give it to them in their dog bowl some time later, rather than from the table or while you are tidying up. You could also consider feeding them their dinner at the same time as you’re eating so they learn that they can enjoy their food at the same time you enjoy yours without having to beg at the table.

It’s safe for your dog to have a small portion of some of the following as a festive treat:

Lean parts of the white turkey meat (plain and boneless) - the dark meat can be too rich for them

Carrot and/or swede mash (with no added extras like butter, salt or onion)

Plain boiled or raw carrots (without any glaze or oil)

Plain boiled parsnips (without any glaze or oil)

Plain boiled or steamed green beans

Plain boiled or steamed Brussel sprouts (no sauce)

Plain boiled or steamed broccoli

Plain boiled, steamed or mashed peas

Plain boiled, wilted or raw spinach

Plain cooked cauliflower (no sauce).

Always feed your dog an amount that is appropriate for their size and ideal weight. Try not to go too overboard – even a little treat will brighten their day. Remember that a dog size portion will often to be much smaller than for a human, even if your pooch is a large breed.