Canine Christmas: Have you made their list and checked it twice?

Canine Christmas: Have you made their list and checked it twice?

You braved your local shopping centre (without a crowd control team), finished your Christmas shopping (or started – there’s no judgement here), committed to decorating the Christmas tree with your kids, family or friends (let’s be real here – you either resigned yourself to this fate or where forcibly encouraged) and when you finally get a chance to put your feet up and let your hair down who do you find looking up at you?... the dog. 

That’s right, your faithful companion, furry friend, sofa sidekick and all round good guy (better known as “such a good boy”) also needs factored into your Christmas equation.  Don’t panic! (we know the fear was real), here at Naturo HQ we’ve put together a dedicated list of everything you need to remember to pull off the perfect canine Christmas for your four legged friend. 

Watch Out For…

We’ll get the scary part out of the way first and go through those eatable options that need to be reserved for your table only:  

  • Grapes and raisins: these ingredients are included in mince pies and Christmas cakes and are highly poisonous to dogs.
  • Chocolate: contains a chemical similar to caffeine which is poisonous to dogs.
  • Onions: can cause stomach irritation and lead to red blood cell damage and anaemia.
  • Macadamia nuts: can cause weakness, tremors, vomiting and hypothermia within 12 hours of consumption.
  • Blue cheese: the mould contains a substance called Roquefortine C, which dogs are sensitive to.
  • Alcohol: can cause your dog to have difficulty breathing or even put your dog in a coma if large doses are consumed.
  • Poinsettia, mistletoe and ivy: are mildly toxic and can cause vomiting, drooling and diarrhoea.
  • Lilies: causes convulsions and can potentially be fatal in large doses.

The Perfect Present…

Now onto the good stuff! *Warning* we’re about to drop in some serious self-promo here but to bend the well-known saying “we’re worth it”.  So whether you’re looking for your four legged friend’s present or a little something special for every dog lover in your life, we’ve got you covered.

Option 1: Limited Edition

Back by popular demand our Naturo Christmas Turkey dinner with Rice, Vegetables and Cranberries is a tasty tray packed with 100% natural ingredients and supplemented with essential vitamins, minerals and oils.  When your furry friend smells a little burning or hears the kitchen smoke alarm start to beep, he can rest easy in the knowledge his dinner is safe… if only our Christmas dinners were just as fool proof!

Option 2: Latest Range

What could be better at the tastiest time of the year than providing your dog with a Chef’s Selection dinner? Available in a range of flavours, our grain free, superfood enriched recipes are the perfect present to sniff out from under the tree (literally, they smell amazing).

  • Turkey with Quinoa, Sweet Potato, Cranberries and Cider Vinegar
  • Chicken with Coconut, Goji Berries, Kale and Cider Vinegar
  • Lamb with Chickpeas, Mixed Peppers, Blueberries and Cider Vinegar  

Read all about our superfood ingredients here – who knew goji berries support healthy bone development or that chickpeas provide 3 times higher concentration of protein than cereal grains? (Well not to brag or anything but *cough, cough* we do).

Option 3: Fundamental Favourite

If the sound of delicious meaty chunks in a rich herb gravy leaves your dog drooling, we recommend wrapping this present ‘pass the parcel’ style because it won’t last long once it’s been discovered!

Filled with turkey, cranberry, broccoli and carrot with lashings of herb gravy, our grain and gluten free recipe is ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergy issues (why should they miss out on the fun?!).   

Shop here: Naturo Grain Free Turkey Can

Words of Wisdom…

Now for the Festive Finale, we’re wrapping up (did you see what we did there? #sorrynotsorry) this blog post with our top 5 tips to help you finish off those Christmas preparations in style (they might as well call you SantaPaws at this stage).   

  • Dogs thrive on routine: so try to maintain their regular feeding, walking and sleeping schedule (even when that Boxing Day lie in is calling your name).
  • Introduce unfamiliar dogs outside: are you entertaining guests who are bringing their own furry friend? Introduce them outside first to avoid territorial issues.
  • Provide down time: just like humans sometimes dogs like a quiet moment or two for themselves (can we put this on our Christmas wish list too?!).  The Christmas season is an excellent opportunity to catch up with friends and family but this endless stream of well-known visitors and new encounters for your pet can be overwhelming for them no matter how social they are.  Make sure they have access to their bed in a quiet spot away from the excitement for a power nap or three should they need it.
  • Expect unfamiliar noises: Halloween may be over but Christmas parties and ringing in the New Year can provide a lot of unfamiliar noises for your pet’s ears (Silent Night isn’t a universal policy).  Whether that is fireworks, crackers or even champagne corks – keep them calm with a designated safe place away from noise if possible and remember your dog looks to you when assessing a situation so if you act calm they are more likely to act calm.    
  • Beware of antifreeze and rock salt: These can be poisonous for dogs so make sure your antifreeze is out of reach and after walking your dog in areas that may have been gritted with rock salt, wash their paws thoroughly.
Delen