Christmas is the time for eating, drinking and being merry, but lots of our favourite festive foods are toxic to our dogs and should be kept well out of paws reach:

Chocolate – chocolate is toxic to dogs and even small amounts can cause serious illness. If you think your dog has eaten chocolate call your vet for advice immediately.

Christmas pudding and mince pies – grapes and dried vine fruits, including currants, sultanas and raisins, can cause severe kidney failure if eaten by dogs.

Onions (and garlic, leeks, shallots and chives) – these all belong to the allium species of plant and are poisonous to dogs whether cooked or uncooked. Avoid feeding foods that include these ingredients, such as gravy.

Alcohol – alcohol has a similar effect in dogs as it does in their owners. Make sure your dog can't help themselves to any unattended alcohol left lying around.

Sweets – many of the sweets we eat over Christmas contain a sugar-free sweetener called xylitol, which is poisonous to dogs.

Which parts of a Christmas dinner can I share with my dog?

Providing your dog is healthy and is not allergic to the following foods, it's safe to feed your dog a little bit of these foods at Christmas:

turkey meat (no skin or bones)

salmon (fillets or cooked in spring water are preferable to smoked salmon)

lamb meat (no bones)

Veggies:   green beans    Brussels sprouts   parsnips   carrot   peas   swede   mashed potato (best without added butter)   new potatoes   sweet potatoes

Dog proof your Christmas tree

Christmas trees can have hidden dangers for your four-legged friend so bear the following points in mind:

Keep decorations out of paws reach   Decorations such as baubles and tinsel can cause a dangerous stomach blockage if swallowed. Hang Christmas tree decorations up high to prevent mischievous paws (or tails) from knocking them off, and remember to never hang chocolate decorations as chocolate is poisonous to dogs.

Don't leave presents under the tree!   Christmas presents lying under the tree can be too tempting for our four-legged friends – especially if the gift is edible! It's best to keep wrapped gifts out of paws reach, as wrapping paper can cause a blockage in your dog's tummy if too much is eaten.

Keep fairy light cables tidy.   The wires on fairy lights can be tempting for your dog to chew. Keep any cables out of your dog's reach and remember to switch them off at the mains when they're not in use.

Always supervise your dog   Whether you have a real or an artificial tree, it's always best to supervise your dog around the Christmas tree, so you can spot mischief before they get themselves into trouble. It may be a good idea to keep your dog out of the room completely while you're out.

Christmas poisonous plants   Christmas plants make the season all the more festive, but these traditional Christmas plants are toxic to dogs:

poinsettia    holly    mistletoe    ivy    potpourri

The advice above is an excerpt from an article by The Blue Cross animal charity. If you'd like to find out more about their work, volunteering opportunities and apprenticeships check out their website The Blue Cross