Experience a festive feast like no other this year from family-run Craigies Farm in South Queensferry. Fourth generation farmer and owner John Sinclair promises a selection of high-quality, locally grown produce alongside largely Scottish-sourced food and drink items for a greener Christmas celebration this year.
Craigies is committed to reducing food miles by growing their own produce or sourcing from local suppliers as much as possible. The Sinclair family raises their own pork and lamb on the farm, guaranteeing the highest standards of quality and provenance. Highland beef comes from the neighbouring Dalmeny Estate, just a stone’s throw away. To guarantee freshness, all meat is prepared by Craigies highly-skilled on-site artisan butchers.
Customers can shop an array of delicious vegetables including potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower and carrots – all cultivated on Craigies Farm. Buy them loose or oven-ready as Christmas sides with options like traditional roast potatoes and maple-roasted root vegetables. You’ll find homegrown ingredients in the popular Craigies range of homemade condiments, including windfall apple chutney, red onion marmalade and festive spiced cranberry sauce.
Satisfying sweet tooths, Craigies have a mouthwatering selection of home-baked goods with traditional Christmas cake, indulgent chocolate yule log, and mince pies all on offer.
Craigies Farm Shop proudly stocks a range of products from local Scottish producers such as Ramsay of Carluke bacon, Mellis artisan cheeses, and Cairn O’Mohr craft wine.
For the main event, this year Craigies has opted to stock free-range, organically reared turkeys from fellow family-run farm, Northumberland Poultry.
Striving to locate the best in poultry as close to Scotland as possible has not been easy due to widespread shortages, but Craigies are confident their turkeys from the North East are the very best in quality and taste.
Lastly, in addition to its wide range of delectable food and drink, Craigies Little Farmers on-site toyshop stocks a menagerie of wonderful toys and unique gifts like high-quality Bruder farm toys, Orange Tree wooden toys, and adorable Keel cuddly toys.
Key deadlines:
Christmas orders can be made up until Sunday 10th December for delivery up till 24th December, or customers can book for click & collect for a convenient festive shopping experience.
John Sinclair, owner of Craigies Farm, commented:“At Craigies our focus is always on quality. We want to give our customers the very best produce for a memorable Christmas. We raise our own meat and grow our own veg where possible, and only choose suppliers that are as committed to quality as we are.
“We’re thrilled to be offering our own pork and lamb as well as beef from our neighbours. With a focus on quality and provenance, we’re confident that a Craigies Christmas offers the very best for festive feasting this year!”
Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives with reading and writing, has today announced that it will gift books to children and families visiting food banks this winter, for the third year.
The need for food banks has continued to grow in Scotland, rising 30% between April 2022 and March this year, compared to the same period in 2021–22. New data from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reports that over a million people in Scotland are living in poverty, around a quarter of whom are children.
Marking its 25th anniversary this year, Scottish Book Trust works to tackle inequality and break the poverty cycle through access to books and reading.
Since 2020, Scottish Book Trust has distributed over 290,000 books to children and families in need through food banks, community hubs and other charities across Scotland. This includes food banks in Edinburgh and the Lothians, The Salvation Army on Gorgie Road, East Lothian Foodbank, West Lothian Foodbank and The Larder.
Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler and Macmillan Children’s Books have given the charity kind permission to use illustrations from The Gruffalo’s Child to help support and raise awareness of the charity’s Christmas appeal.
Julia Donaldson said: ‘Scottish Book Trust has been doing great work for 25 years supporting children with literacy and improving access to books. The charity has just beaten the Gruffalo by one year, as he is going to be 25 next year.
“In fact, the Gruffalo’s origins go back to when I first tried the story out in various primary schools in Scotland, under the wing of Scottish Book Trust.
“I have continued to work with the charity regularly since then and am very pleased that The Gruffalo’s Child is leading their Christmas appeal this year and helping children and families at a time when books and stories are needed more than ever.’
Axel Scheffler said: ‘I am very happy that The Gruffalo’s Child is at the centre of Scottish Book Trust’s fundraising campaign this Christmas.
“Enjoying books together is important for families and it is terrible that many children still have no access to books – and that this need is becoming ever greater.
“I hope that many people will support this Christmas appeal, so that Scottish Book Trust can increase their work in making a difference to children’s lives in Scotland.’
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘Christmas is looking stark for many families across Scotland. Access to books is absolutely essential for a child’s development and wellbeing, and for many the only books they have at home are the ones that have been given to them by Scottish Book Trust.
“Books make a huge difference to daily lives, bringing comfort, escapism and togetherness in families. Every child deserves a little magic at Christmas and donations to our appeal will provide vital support for those most in need.’
Funds raised from the appeal will enable Scottish Book Trust to give books to families via food banks and community hubs and deliver more of its life-changing work. Some examples of its programmes include specialist support for young families facing significant challenges through Bookbug for the Home, providing tactile books for children with additional support needs and supporting those living with dementia and the people who care for them.
To learn more about Scottish Book Trust’s Christmas appeal, visit:
– Morrisons has the largest supermarket Christmas pet range this year –
– The dog and cat range will include almost 30 products, from advent calendars to Christmas dinners and festive jumpers –
– 10% of sales of the Morrisons Rudi Reindeer Iced Dog Cookies go to charity partner Together for Short Lives –
– The range is available in-store and online now nationwide –
With more than half (57%) of British households owning a furry friend, animal companions are an integral part of Christmas festivities for much of the nation. Morrisons is making sure Christmas 2023 is the ulti-mutt celebration for pets as it unveils its biggest festive pet range to date.
Comprising nearly 30 products, pet owners will be able to pick up advent calendars, Christmas dinners, jumpers and more so furry friends don’t miss out on the festive fun. With prices starting from just £1.49, there’s a pocket-friendly treat for every pet owner to pick up.
For those looking to share the Christmas countdown with their pets, shoppers can grab the Morrisons Pawsome Meaty Christmas Dog Treat Advent Calendar and Morrisons Purrfect Meaty Christmas Cat Treat Advent Calendar, both £3.99, filled with tasty treats for pets to enjoy each day.
Customers can also kit their pets out in the finest festive wear with the Gifts for Pets Dog Festive Jumper (£4.99) and Gifts For Pets Reindeer Headband for Dogs & Cats (£2.99).
For a delicious Christmas Eve treat, pups can chow down on Morrisons Rudi Reindeer Iced Dog Cookies (£3.99), adorably shaped like festive reindeer. 10% of sales from the Rudi range go to charity partner Together for Short Lives, giving shoppers even more reason to pick up the tasty treats.
Pets don’t need to miss out on the big day itself either, as the range boasts all of the ingredients needed for a paw-sitively delicious pooch Christmas dinner. Customers can choose from Morrisons Turkey and Bacon Hot Dogs for Dogs (£1.99), Morrisons Sausages in either Christmas Dinner or Pork & Apple Stuffing Flavour for Dogs (£1.99), Morrison Pigs in Blankets for Dogs (£2.99), and of course Morrisons Mince Pies for Dogs (£2.99) to top it all off.
The range also includes plenty of treats purr-fect for stocking fillers, such as the Morrisons Merry Poochmas Rawhide alternative Chew sticks (£1.99), available in the shape of Christmas trees, or Gingerbread people. Cats can tuck into the Morrisons Tasty Tuna Meowy Christmas Cat Sticks or Morrisons Delicious Duck Christmas Quackers Cat Treats, just £1.49 each, and there are pet safe crackers for both cats and dogs (£2.49).
Andy Whiteman, Product Developer at Morrisons, said:“Santa Paws is truly coming to Morrisons this year as we introduce our biggest and best Christmas pet range.
“We know pets are an important part of so many families, so now shoppers can pick up everything they need to share the celebrations with their cuddly companions, without breaking the bank.”
For more information on the wider Morrisons Christmas range, visit:
Garden centre celebrates the magic of Christmas at Santa’s Grotto
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is announcing its highly anticipated Santa’s Grotto and Quiet Grotto enchanting experience in its Edinburgh store, designed to bring families together to celebrate the magic of Christmas. Whether little ones are meeting Santa and his elves for the first time, or it’s a cherished annual tradition, attendees can enjoy festive fun at Dobbies.
Children will be welcomed by Santa’s elves who will take them through a Christmas tree forest spotting magical characters along the way, before making a special item to take home. Once they’ve spent time with Santa’s elves, they’ll get the chance to meet Santa Claus himself. Santa will greet children, share some Christmas magic, hear their wishes, and hand them a gift to take home.
The Quiet Grotto is also running this year at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store, thoughtfully designed with sound and visual elements to create a relaxed atmosphere for children with additional needs. Quiet Grottos will be available from 2.30pm on Friday 8 December.
Families with canine companions in Edinburgh are in for a treat as they can bring their four-legged friends to meet Santa. Starting from 2 December, dog owners are invited along to a Santa Paws experience where they’ll receive adorable pet-friendly gifts from Santa.
Sarah Murray, who develops Dobbies’ festive line up, knows just how magical Christmas is for all the family. She said: “For every child, meeting Santa is a treasured highlight of the season.
“At Dobbies we’re dedicated to creating a Santa’s Grotto experience that resonates with every member of the community. We’re thrilled that this year’s grotto experiences in Edinburgh will continue to spark the enchantment of Christmas for all families who join us.”
If families would like to preserve a cherished memory of the day, there’s the chance to add on a professional photograph at the time of booking, or add on the day from £5 for a digital image and £7 for a photo booklet.
On Thursday 23 November, Dobbies’ Edinburgh store will be welcoming Santa as he arrives from the North Pole. Santa will walk around the store, say hello to families and take selfies with children as he embarks on his new residency at the grotto.
Tickets are priced at £11.99 per child for Santa’s Grotto and Santa’s Quiet Grotto experiences, and Santa Paws is priced at £6.99 per dog. A non-refundable donation for Teenage Cancer Trust is also available at the time of booking.
For more information about Dobbies’ Santa’s Grotto experiences and to make a booking, please visit dobbies.com/events
GARDEN CENTRE TO GIVE AWAY COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREES – BUT TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO MAKE YOUR NOMINATION
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is spreading Christmas joy to local schools and nursery groups in Edinburgh with real tree donations as part of its Not Your Average Community campaign, in partnership with sustainable real tree grower, Needlefresh.
Set to twinkle corridors and delight children with yuletide cheer, Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and Stockbridge little dobbies will be donating Nordmann Fir Christmas trees to local schools and nurseries to create a centrepiece for celebrations and is now welcoming nominations.
All of Dobbies’ Christmas trees are sustainably grown in environmentally managed fields across Scotland where the growing team do everything from planting, pruning and harvesting by hand to reduce the impact on surrounding environment, wildlife and plants.
Dobbies’ CSR and Community Communications Executive, Chloë Bell, has been delivering Dobbies’ Not Your Average Community campaign for two years and is excited announce this year’s focus. She said: “Community is at the core of Christmas at Dobbies and we love sharing the festive joy with those around us.
“We want to help create Christmas magic in local schools and nurseries in Edinburgh and hope that through the tree donations with Needlefresh, kids can come together, decorate the tree and make memories.”
Needlefresh Managing Director, George Hood, added: “Our sustainable Nordmann Fir Christmas trees make a wonderful centrepiece to festive celebrations as they are bushy and full, and good needle retention.
“We are excited to see how local schools and nurseries bring this classic tree to life through their decorations and we are delighted to be partnering with Dobbies on delivering a magical moment for children in Edinburgh.”
Nominations are now open. Entries close on Wednesday 25 October and successful applicants will be contacted in November to arrange a date to collect a Nordmann Fir tree from their local store.
For more information about how to get involved or make a nomination, visit Not your average community | Dobbies Garden Centres
‘BREAKFAST WITH SANTA’ EVENTS UNVEILED AT THE CENTRE LIVINGSTON
The Centre, Livingston has unveiled plans for its first-ever ‘Breakfast with Santa’ events in the run up to Christmas, with proceeds going to children’s charity CHAS, which provides the country’s only hospice services for children and young people with life-shortening conditions.
The six breakfast events, which will run on the first three weekends in December, include tucking into a hearty buffet breakfast in The Wintergarden, adjacent to Aerial Adventures, a visit to see Santa in his Grotto and the chance to join in some festive fun activities, hosted by Santa’s elves, including party games.
Tickets for the ‘Breakfast with Santa’ events on the 2nd & 3rd, 9th & 10th and 16th & 17th of December are £14.95 for children, which includes a present from Santa, and £10.95 for adults, with £3 from every ticket sold going to CHAS.
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston said: “We’re really excited about our first-ever ‘Breakfast with Santa’ events this year in the run up to Christmas and to be able to raise funds for the children’s charity, CHAS.
“It’s a great way to combine a visit to see Santa and join in some Christmas party fun-filled activities for all the family whilst enjoying breakfast together and raising money for a very worthy cause at the same time.”
Zhenya Dove, Community Fundraiser at CHAS said: “We are so grateful and honoured to be chosen as the beneficiary for the ‘Breakfast with Santa’ events at The Centre, Livingston.
“This amazing initiative promises to infuse the holiday season with warmth and joy while allowing us the opportunity to raise crucial funds for the families we care for.
“Being the sole provider of hospice services for babies, children and young people facing life-shortening conditions in Scotland, every contribution is crucial in enabling us to continue our mission.
“The generosity of The Centre and all those attending these heart-warming events will make a real difference in the lives of these children and their families.”
– Customers can save up to 57% off select toys with savings of up to £60 –
– Barbie, Disney, Pokemon, Hot Wheels & Lego all included in giant toy sale –
– Toy sale available while stocks last –
Morrisons has today launched a huge toy sale across over 50 products with savings of up to £60, to help customers spread the cost over the Christmas period.
Customers can bag a bargain on Squishmallows Stackers which are reduced to £12 from £20 – alongside up to 50% of must-have toys this year from Barbie, Pokemon, Hot Wheels & Lego .
Following the release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie earlier this year, it’s predicted that Barbie will be the top toy seller this festive period.
Morrisons shoppers can bag some Barbie bargains with 57% off the Dream Camper Playset, £60, down from £140 , 50% off the Barbie Best Friend Fairy £15, down from £30, and 30% off the Barbie Pet Supply Playset £25, down from £37.50
For mini musicians, customers can snap up the Academy of Music 54 key keyboard for just £20 reduced from £40, making a saving of 50% as well as nearly 30% off the Mi-Mic Mini Karaoke Speaker With Microphone, £17, down from £23
50% savings are available on other big brands including the Cocomelon Pram for £30 (normally £60), Hotwheels Rhinomite/Bone Shaker for £35 (normally £70) and Peppa Pig Wooden Playhouse for £52.50 (normally £105).
David Catton, Toy Buyer at Morrisons says:“We’re excited to offer our customers 50% off a range of must-have toys.
“With the festive season fast approaching, we hope this huge sale will help customers spread the cost of purchasing Christmas gifts this year.”
Morrisons toy sale is available now in 423 stores while stocks last.
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, will make Christmas the most wonderful time of the year, with an incredible line up of fun and affordable festive events in its Edinburgh store to make the holiday season extra special for families. Tickets for all events are on sale now.
No Dobbies’ Christmas is complete without the famous Santa’s Grotto. Families in Edinburgh can enjoy an immersive experience where they’ll be guided by an elf through a Christmas tree forest, spotting magical characters along the way, before making a special item to take home. After that, they’ll spend time with Santa and get a special gift. Attendees can also choose to get a photo with Santa, so they’ll always have that special memory.
Santa’s Quiet Grotto will also be available on 8 December. This experience is designed to assist children with additional needs with customised sound and visual features to minimise anxiety.
Families with dogs will be thrilled to know that Dobbies’ Edinburgh store will be offering a Santa Paws Grotto experience. Dog lovers can bring their furry pals for doggie gifts and photo opportunities with Santa.
The always-popular Santa’s Breakfast is also taking place and is ideal for those under 10. Breakfast options will be available for both adults and children, including vegetarian selections. Kids can dive into exciting craft activities, enjoy festive games and receive a gift from Santa.
Dobbies’ Festive Afternoon Tea is the perfect opportunity for family and friends in Edinburgh to spend time together enjoying seasonal magic. There will be three tiers of tasty festive treats from finger sandwiches with honey roast ham to sweet treats like scones served with Cornish clotted cream, as well as unlimited tea and coffee. Attendees can also upgrade to enjoy more delicious savoury snacks like the prawn marie rose vol au vents, festive hot drinks, and even Prosecco for an additional treat.
It’s jingle bells all the way at Santa’s Arrival where lucky families will have the opportunity to see Santa at an informal opening night of the Grotto on 23 November. Santa will walk around the store, spending time with kids, taking selfies, and spreading holiday cheer.
Dobbies’ Christmas Shopping Night on 30 November is the perfect time for families to enjoy festive shopping while supporting Dobbies’ National Charity Partner, Teenage Cancer Trust. They can pick from lots of great gifts, beautiful decorations, and seasonal staples.
The Little Seedlings Christmas Party will also be taking place, exclusively for Little Seedlings Club members aged 4-10. Members will receive a VIP invite to attend, and can anticipate Christmas games, dancing, and delicious food, alongside a special visit from Santa, bearing a special gift.
Sarah Murray, who has developed this year’s events programme, said: “We are filled with excitement about the upcoming Christmas events in our Edinburgh store. Seeing families and friends come together, sharing laughter, and creating special memories is at the heart of what we do at Dobbies.
“Our team has poured their passion into crafting an array of festive experiences that will truly bring the magic of Christmas to life. We can’t wait to see the happiness these events bring our customers and their loved ones.”
Customers in Edinburgh are encouraged to book in advance for Dobbies’ Christmas events to avoid disappointment.
Santa’s Grotto runs from 23 November, £11.99 per child
Santa Paws runs from 2December, £6.99 per dog
Santa’s Breakfast takes place from 25 November onwards, £13.99 per child and from £9 per adult
Festive Afternoon Tea starts on 1 November and runs through December, prices from £13.50 for adults and £8.50 for children.
Santa’s Arrival takes place on 23 November from 4.30pm to 7pm
Christmas Shopping Night runs on 30 November, from 5pm to 9pm
The Little Seedlings Christmas Party takes place on 3December
To learn more about the events and bookings, please visit dobbies.com/events
Councillors have confirmed UniqueAssembly will deliver both Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay festivals for 2023.
Following an update on performance of the 2022/23 editions of the festivals on Tuesday (7 March), the Culture and Communities Committee recommended the one-year extension for Edinburgh’s Christmas which was considered and ratified by Finance and Resources Committee on Friday.
UniqueAssembly already has a contract to produce Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2023/24 and Councillors today approved the continuation of this contract.
Councillors discussed the levels of success for both festivals including lessons learned, noting the short turnaround time UniqueAssembly had to produce Edinburgh’s Christmas.
The decision for UniqueAssembly to produce Edinburgh’s Christmas 2022/23 was taken at a special meeting of the Council’s Finance and Resources committee in October, convened following the request to withdraw from the contract by original producers Angels Event Experience (AEE).
Over the 39 days of Edinburgh’s Christmas, the market stalls and funfair rides in East Princes Street Gardens and Mound Precinct, Santa Land in West Princes Street Gardens, and Lidl on Ice (ice rink) on George Street saw an overall footfall of 2.4 million.
Edinburgh’s Christmas provided a number of community benefits to citizens. Over 6,000 tickets were given to 30 local charities and community groups and 82,200 20% discounted rides and attractions across all the sites for residents.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay welcomed over 65,000 people to events across the three days of the festival which included a Night Afore Concert at the Ross Bandstand, headlined by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Street Party and Concert in the Gardens headlined by Pet Shop Boys and large programme of free live events and family entertainment on 1 January 2023.
City of Edinburgh Council Culture and Communities Convener, Cllr Val Walker said: “Edinburgh’s Christmas 2022/23 proved to be more challenging than usual to deliver, and my thanks to UniqueAssembly for taking over the contract last year with just seven weeks to deliver such a successful event in addition to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.
“Today’s decision not only confirms our satisfaction with the 2022/23 Winter Festivals, it gives our support to UniqueAssembly to realise more of our shared ambitions for even better events this year, including a greater spread across the city and ensuring that our greenspaces are used sensitively.
“There’s no questioning the popularity of our Winter Festivals or the benefits they bring to the Capital – the enjoyment and wellbeing of our residents, but also the economic impact for our businesses and the city as a whole.
“Following the termination of our contract with the original Christmas provider it was our absolute priority to ensure that we provided high-quality festive celebrations for the city – and that these were delivered in the spirit of the feedback received in our consultation with residents, businesses and stakeholders. The update report shows this was achieved and I’m looking forward to this year’s offering.”
Directors of UniqueAssembly said: “The Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations are so important not only for visitors to the city, but also for our fellow residents, local businesses and city economy.
“The confirmation of the contract for this year means we can build on the success of 2022, and with longer lead-time realise our ambitions for Edinburgh’s festive celebrations.”
A six-year-old Dalmatian from Derby has narrowly avoided a Christmas catastrophe after eating an almost full pack of After Eights chocolate – including the wrappers.
But thanks to life-saving veterinary care funded by the UK’s largest vet charity, PDSA, the much-loved family pet Reggie will still get to enjoy the festive season with his family.
Reggie got his paws on the chocolate when his owner, Natalie Wood (31), popped out with her son, Brooklyn (10), to football practice.
“When I got home I noticed straightaway what had happened. I’d had three myself and left the box on the side in the kitchen, which I thought was out of his reach, but when I got home the rest of the chocolates had gone with just the box left, so I knew he had eaten almost the whole pack, including the wrappers,” Natalie explained. “I panicked because I know how dangerous chocolate can be to dogs so I called my local PDSA straightaway.”
PDSA confirmed they could help Reggie and advised Natalie to take him to their out of hours provider Vets Now in Derby. Once there, the vets gave Reggie an injection to make him sick.
Luckily, thanks to Natalie’s quick thinking and the treatment, which cost more than £300 and was funded by PDSA, Reggie made a full recovery and was able to return home the same day with medication to prevent his body from absorbing any remaining toxins.
“Usually Reggie is such a happy and playful dog, but he was really feeling sorry for himself that day, you could tell he wasn’t himself,” Natalie explained.
“But when we got home, I gave him a plain dinner of chicken and rice and the medication the vets gave us, and then he slept all night. He woke up the next morning and was back to normal!”
Ahead of the Christmas period, Natalie and PDSA are warning other pet owners of the dangers festive treats can pose to furry friends.
“Everyone knows chocolate is poisonous to dogs so I dread to think what would have happened to Reggie without PDSA,” Natalie added.
“With the cost of living crisis at the moment, I’m noticing everything is going up, from milk to petrol, and with Christmas around the corner, money is really tight. I have no idea what I would have done without PDSA as I would have struggled to afford the care Reggie needed to save his life.”
Natalie, who lives in Swadlincote, adopted Reggie when he was just a year old. “He’s been my best friend ever since,” she said. “He is one of the family; life wouldn’t be the same without him.”
PDSA Veterinary Nurse Shauna Spooner said: “Many of us have treats, sweets and chocolates in the house, and while the festive period can be a time for indulgence, it’s important to remember that some of these foods are very harmful to our pets.
“Foods including chocolate, mince pies, onions, raisins, grapes, some nuts, sage-and-onion stuffing and Christmas cake can all be harmful and should be kept safely out of paws’ reach over Christmas.
“If you suspect your dog has eaten any amount of chocolate, call your vet straight away for advice, don’t wait for symptoms to appear, but there are some key signs to be aware of:
“Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which is toxic to dogs, cats, and rabbits. In severe cases, chocolate poisoning in dogs can cause fits and even death. There are some signs you can look out for if you think your pet may have accidentally eaten chocolate:
Excessive thirst
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
A tender tummy and restlessness
Tremors
A racing heart or abnormal heart rhythm
Raised body temperature and rapid breathing
“The higher the cocoa content of the chocolate, the more dangerous it is, so dark chocolate poses the biggest risk to pets.”
In times of hardship pets like Reggie will still fall ill or become injured and need emergency care.
PDSA is appealing for donations so that the charity can continue to support owners who have nowhere else to turn by providing life-saving care to vulnerable pets. To donate, visit pdsa.org.uk/donate.
Everyone wants their pets to feel included on Christmas Day and one way you might be thinking of doing this is to give them a share of your festive feast.
However, it is important to remember what is and, more importantly, is not safe for your dogs to eat. Luckily, PDSA vets are on hand with some top tips on how to safely share your delicious Christmas dinner with your dogs this festive season.
PDSA Vet, Lynne James, said: “There are parts of a ‘typical’ Christmas dinner that we can share with our furry friends, and I’m sure they would very much enjoy, but there are also parts that we should keep away from our pets at all costs.”
Lynne explained the ‘dog-safe’ parts of a roast include:
Boneless white turkey meat
Carrot and swede mash (make sure it doesn’t have onion in)
Vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, green beans, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, peas and cauliflower.
“But remember, it is important to make sure the food is plain and not covered in glaze, sauce, gravy, or seasoning as this could upset your dog’s stomach,” Lynne added.
“Other foods, such as cheese sauce, roast potatoes, bacon, and pigs in blankets aren’t dangerous but are high in fat and could easily upset your dog’s stomach, and they will likely pile on the pounds with all those extra calories.”
Lynne also shared a list of forbidden foods, which are highly dangerous to our four-legged friends and can have fatal consequences:
Onions
Garlic
Leeks
Shallots
Mincemeat
Currants, raisins and sultanas
Bones
Alcohol
Chocolate
PDSA Vet Lynne’s top Christmas dinner tips
Don’t overshare with your dog in the weeks and days surrounding Christmas because you may find that they start to expect something every time you have a meal, which encourages begging behaviour and is unhealthy in the long-term.
Remember portion control and don’t go crazy – our dogs are much smaller than us, and what seems like a tiny amount of food to us will be a huge treat in their eyes! For a small dog breed, such as a Border Terrier, eating just four pigs in blankets is the equivalent of a human eating an entire Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.
Have your vet’s out-of-hours number stored in your phone so, should an emergency occur and your dog eats something they shouldn’t, you can contact them immediately!
If you do feed your dog a little treat, make sure it’s no more than 10 per cent of their daily food intake, and remember to reduce the amount of food in their next meal to avoid over feeding them.
PDSA relies on donations to deliver life-saving treatment to hundreds of thousands of pets across its 48 Pet Hospitals in the UK.
To keep families together this winter, the charity is urgently calling on the public’s support more than ever to prevent vulnerable people having to make a truly heart-breaking decision.
