Remember, there can be health risks to dogs at this time of year - our festive foods and decorations can cause major problems for our pets...
Chocolate: can be very toxic to dogs, especially dark chocolate. Take care with all chocolate
containing treats e.g biscuits - there are special dog-chocolates available, just don’t get them mixed up!
Tinsel and Rubber bands: dogs often enjoy playing with tinsel and rubber bands but they
can be dangerous if eaten as they can cause gut blockage, often needing urgent surgery
Raisins/grapes: (eg in cake/pudding/mince pies): can cause kidney failure in dogs due to oxalate poisoning
Xmas trees: climbing (OK, only smallish dogs, usually) and electrocution risk from lights (chewing or urinating); also, pine needles if swallowed can cause gut perforations
Presents under the tree: depending on the contents!
Table scraps: often much richer than normal causing diarrhoea
Bones: can cause dietary upsets and blockages, especially the fragile bones from turkey or goose
String (wrapping and cooking): dangerous if eaten, and if it gets wrapped around leg or tail it can act as a tourniquet, cutting off the blood supply
Holly berries and Poinsettia: can cause dietary upsets and abdominal pain
Mistletoe, Cyclamen tubers and Christmas Rose: can cause dietary upsets and neurological
signs (e.g. seizures)
Lily pollen: can cause kidney failure
Pet toys: ensure they are good quality to prevent injury or swallowing of small parts causing
blockages
Alcohol: dogs don’t cope with alcohol very well, and a carelessly abandoned glass of sherry can cause real distress to an unsuspecting pet!
Paracetamol and ibuprofen: good for our hangovers, but can cause liver or kidney failure

So, take good care of them - and have a Merry Christmas!