Christmas dinner for your dog with ideas for three festive courses
Christmas is a time that should be celebrated by everyone, even our four-legged-friends.
Now, more than ever, dogs are playing an incredibly important role in our lives and caring for our pets helps us not just survive modern life, but thrive in it.
In fact, during the coronavirus outbreak, 79 per cent of people said their dog helped them to boost their mood during the days of first lockdown.
A study by dog food company tails.com found that two in five of British dog owners admit to cooking homemade meals for their dogs, and Christmas dinner is no exception.
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(Image: Eva Cheng)
And while dogs can’t join in with our Christmas drinks or tuck into a box of chocolates, there’s plenty of festive treats we can get them involved in.
Tails.com has created a guide to creating the most luxurious three-course Christmas meal that is safe and tasty for your dog.
Starter
Salmon is one of our favourite starters on Christmas Day – and luckily, salmon is dog-friendly, too. It’s not only an excellent source of protein, but it’s also packed with omega-3 fatty acids to support the immune system and keep their coat looking healthy.
Make sure any salmon you feed to your dog is fresh, unseasoned, and cooked through.
Main
We humans aren’t the only ones who get giddy at the thought of a traditional Christmas dinner.
And even though your four-legged friend should avoid the homemade gravy, pigs in blankets, and stuffing due to the ingredients and high salt content, there are still some Christmas dinner staples they can happily gobble up with you.
Turkey is arguably the best part of a Christmas dinner and is perfectly safe to eat as long as it’s unseasoned, off the bone, and not from the bird’s leg (the fatty bit).
Serve up the turkey alongside plain boiled potatoes and some boiled veggies (we love carrots and parsnips) for a tasty Christmas lunch.
Dessert
Chocolate and raisins are toxic for dogs – so the Christmas pudding and yule log are out of the picture.
However, that doesn’t mean your pup needs to miss out.
Packed with antioxidants, a handful of fresh cranberries is perfect for the occasional festive treat. Just avoid the cranberry sauce, as it can contain lots of added sugar.
Meanwhile, Burgess Pet Care has urged pet owners to beware of their furry friends taking a shine to the Christmas treats and decorations.
The most commonly consumed item at this time of year is chocolate, which is one of the most dangerous items a pet can eat, and veterinary surgeons are also known to have treated animals that have eaten tinsel, baubles, battery-powered toys, Christmas wrapping and ribbon.
Other Christmas items that are dangerous for small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and gerbils are mistletoe, holly, poinsettia, ivy and Christmas trees.
Dr Suzanne Moyes, in-house vet at Burgess Pet Care, suggested that to help keep pets out of Christmas mischief, their dinner time could be made a little more interactive.
She said: “Sprinkle some suitable herbs in and around your rabbits’, guinea pigs’ or chinchillas’ hay to encourage their natural foraging behaviour.
“Fill a cat or dog-friendly toy with their favourite kibble for endless entertainment.
“Put your dog’s nose to the test by creating a treasure hunt or create a multi-level castle for your cat out of the cardboard boxes we all collect over Christmas.”
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