Toasts as an aperitif
As an aperitif, our tables are teeming with toast, blinis and small canapes of all kinds. Nothing serious if one of these small bites fell into the mouth of Médor but they are still foods to limit at home. Too rich in starch, dogs (and a fortiori dogs of Nordic breeds) have difficulty digesting them when they are brought in too large quantities. They could therefore cause loose stools or even diarrhea the next day! Admit that there is still much better as a Christmas present!
Why do Nordic dogs digest starch well?
In the northern regions, agriculture has not developed much and sources of starch have remained rather rare. Dog breeds that evolved in these environments therefore maintained a more wolf-like diet and did not need to develop the enzymatic equipment needed to digest starch.
Smoked salmon and prawns
Rich in animal protein, smoked salmon and shrimp can be shared with your furry friend at Christmas. Only downside: the high s alt content of these products which contraindicates them in very small dogs, cardiac or hypertensive animals. For the others, limit yourself to one or two shelled prawn tails (depending on the size of your dog) or a small piece of smoked salmon without stopping during the meal.
Foie gras
As its name suggests, foie gras is fatty and therefore caloric. It should therefore be avoided in animals that are overweight or suffer from pancreatitis. In he althy animals, a small die will be more than enough.
Turkey with chestnuts
If there is one dish that you can easily share with your dog, it is poultry but without the chestnuts. Rich in animal protein and low in calories (if the turkey is given without the skin), turkey meat is a food of choice for your dog. When it is cooked, however, be sure to distribute the boneless poultry meat to your dog. Indeed, cooked bones are very friable and extremely dangerous for your dog in whom they are likely to cause digestive perforations! If you insist on giving your dog bones, give him raw meaty bones, that is to say raw bones completely surrounded by flesh and always adapted to the size of his jaw.
As for chestnuts, they should be avoided because of their high starch content which could well cause some digestive disorders in your pet.
some poultry are nevertheless considered fatty meats. This is the case of the goose.
Game
Game meat (without bones) can be shared with your dog without any problem! They are an integral part of its carnivorous diet. Be careful, however, to only give them to your dog when they are cooked because game meat (and wild boar, in particular) is likely to be infested with eggs or parasite larvae which can contaminate the dog during their ingestion. Cooking, however, cleans them up.
Meat in sauce: be careful!
While cooked, boneless meat is safe for the dog, the same may not be the sauces that accompany them. Thus, avoid giving your dog sauces that contain toxic foods for him such as onions or garlic for example.
Cheese
Rich in lipids and taste, cheese is generally well appreciated by dogs. However, limit yourself to a small or two small dice, depending on the size of your dog, so as not to cause digestive problems in him.
Beware, however, of the garlic and herb cheeses and grapes that sometimes garnish the cheese platter: they are very toxic for the dog!
The log
Rather fatty and very sweet, the log is a food that is not recommended for dogs. However, you can give a very small piece if your dessert does not contain any toxic ingredients for your dog (chocolate, macadamia nuts, fresh or raisins) and if your dog does not suffer from digestive disorders.
Beware of alcohol
Take care to clear the glasses before leaving a room to which your dog has access so that he cannot lap up any alcohol that may remain there. Dogs are particularly attracted to beer, sweet alcohols and fruity cocktails. This could lead to fairly severe hop and/or alcohol poisoning that will end New Year's Eve in the veterinary emergency room!
Reasonable quantities
All the foods listed as examples below (with the exception of meat) should be considered treats for your dog and should therefore be given to him sparingly so as not to overload his sometimes fragile digestive system. Remember that the amount of treat given to your dog should not exceed 10% of the total daily calories needed by your dog. If during parties, you (or your guests) are a little too generous with your pet, do not give him his usual food at the next meal or reduce the quantities a little!