Give your pets a happy (and safe) holiday

WOMAN'S VET EMMA MARCHINGTON HELPS YOU AND YOUR PETS

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Pets are part of the family, so naturally we want them to join in the Christmas festivities. They can find all the excitement stressful, however, so you need to strike the right balance. Make sure your pet has a quiet, safe space to chill out in if they want, and watch out for the hidden dangers that come with festive food, wrappings and decorations. Here are some of the questions that we vets are often asked at this time of year.

Toxic tasty treats

Q What Christmas foods or snacks are dangerous for pets to eat?

Chocolate is everywhere at Christmas. Most pet owners are aware that it is toxic for pets but you may not know that dark chocolate is worse as it contains more of the toxic substance theobromine. Every year hundreds of dogs are affected, often because people hang chocolate decorations on the tree, or wrap boxes of chocolates and leave them under the tree. If you have pets or visiting animals, it's best to keep any edible gifts up high or shut away out of their reach.