Why you shouldn't feed your dog your Christmas dinner leftovers

We’ve all been there: you've plated up your delicious Christmas lunch — from the juicy turkey meat to the crispy roasties and honey-glazed carrots — and despite eating until you’re stuffed, you still end up with plenty of leftovers. In the generous and jolly spirit of Christmas, it’s of course tempting to pass on some of the extra grub to your pooch. But according to experts, as much as you want your pup to celebrate, feeding dogs leftovers can actually be dangerous to their health.

Animal Friends pet insurance partnered with vet Dr Sam Webster from Joii Pet Care to offer advice on festive feasting for pups, after it was released that a shocking 67% of Brits inadvertently feed their pets at least one toxic food over Christmas. And there's a pretty extensive list of festive favourites including pigs in blankets, mince pies and stuffing that can cause potential harm to a dog, from vomiting to intestinal obstruction.

For starters, pups should be keeping away from pigs-in-blankets and other fatty meats, as well as gravy. These fat-rich foods can lead to obesity and pancreatitis, and often contain way more salt than your pet's body can handle. If you really want your pup to have a meaty treat, 'stick to unseasoned lean meat such as chicken and turkey', Dr Sam says. But be warned - any cooked bones in meat can be fatal to canine friends. Dr Sam adds: 'Cooked bones are not safe for dogs due to them commonly causing constipation, intestinal obstruction or even perforation, piercing a painful hole to internal organs which can be life-threatening.'

It's also vital you keep your pups away from festive puddings and mince pies. Dr Sam points out: 'Raisins, sultanas and grapes are extremely toxic for dogs and must always be avoided. Even small amounts can be dangerous, so refrain from feeding your pup any dessert that has these ingredients. Mince pies and other puddings with a high nut and sugar content may also cause pancreatitis.'

It's the same case with chocolate, which can be lethal for your pooch. Dr Sam warns it's 'highly toxic' for dogs, because 'it includes fat, sugar, caffeine and a bitter alkaloid, called theobromine, that can cause nervous system disorders as well as heart and kidney failure'. With that in mind, always make sure to stash your selection boxes way out of the way.

Other foods that must be avoided include:

• Stuffing, which contains onions that are toxic for dogs
• Yorkshire puddings, which have a high fat content
• Alcohol-infused foods, which can cause long-term damage to your dog's liver and brain
• Curd meat and smoked salmon, which have too much salt
• Nuts, particularly macadamia which are highly toxic for dogs
• Sauces, which your dog's body will struggle to digest
• Cheese or cream, which have high fat content
• Sweets, particularly is they contain xylitol which is highly toxic for dogs

If you're looking for more advice to keep your pooch safe this Christmas, you can visit Animal Friends' webpage here.

Alternatively, you can get specially created Christmas dinners for dogs thanks to brands like Pure Pet food, which has launched a meal at £2 per portion. It contains turkey, brown rice, potato, peas, dried egg, dried cranberry, carrot, parsnip and more! Buy it online now at 400g per pack, so the feast will last your pooch up to five days.