Revealed: The Christmas food that can make your dog fat – as vets warn, just four pigs in blankets is the equivalent of a whole Christmas dinner for puppies

Anyone who has a pet knows how tempting it is to give them a piece of food, especially during the holidays.

But you really need to be careful not to overfeed your four-legged friends, vets warn – because just four pigs in blankets for dogs is the equivalent of a full Christmas dinner.

Meanwhile, a Yorkshire pudding for a cat is like humans eating one and a half margarita pizzas.

PDSA, the national veterinary charity for pets in need, said sharing these leftovers and treats can add up to huge calorie equivalents.

And they can lead to bigger problems over time.

‘Showing love to your pets doesn’t have to mean sharing your plate with them,’ said PDSA veterinary nurse Gemma Renwick.

‘Many popular festive treats have shocking calorie equivalents for our pets, making overfeeding furry family members a major risk – and one that can lead to serious health problems, including weight gain.

‘Additionally, pets can often develop vomiting or diarrhea if their diet suddenly changes, so it’s best to stick to their normal diet and regular meals as much as possible.

You really need to be careful not to overfeed your four-legged friends, vets warn – because just four pigs in blankets for dogs is the equivalent of a full Christmas dinner

‘Even for humans, the number of calories in an entire Christmas dinner can quickly add up. So it’s important to consider how the smallest table scraps can translate into excessive calories for our pets.”

For a medium-sized dog such as a Beagle, eating a human-sized turkey dinner is the same as us humans eating almost four, the charity said.

Even small amounts of some foods can be high in calories, as one serving of ham for a dog is comparable to someone eating more than one and a half bacon rolls.

Meanwhile, for a cat, a portion of ham is equivalent to eating 10 chicken skewers.

While a Christmas treat may seem harmless in itself, obesity is a common problem in pets and increases the risk of diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and respiratory problems, the charity said.

They also warned that many foods can be dangerous to pets.

Stuffing and gravy often contain onion, leek and garlic, while mince pies and Christmas cake contain sultanas, sultanas and currants, all of which can be fatal to both cats and dogs.

‘If you’re keen to share a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas treat with your furry friend, remember that even the smallest morsel of food will be a huge treat in their eyes, so don’t go overboard with the portions,’ says Ms Renwick.

According to the PDSA, a serving of ham for a cat is equivalent to eating 10 chicken skewers.

‘Consider reducing the amount of their usual food that day so they don’t consume extra calories.

“Generally speaking, the ‘pet-safe’ parts of a roast are the parts that are as plain as possible and not covered in glaze or oil that can upset the stomach.”

‘Boneless white turkey meat, carrot and swede puree (without butter or onion) and plain vegetables are all good options.

‘You should also try to avoid sharing too much with your pet in the weeks and days around Christmas, as you may find that he comes to expect something every time you eat, which can encourage begging and is unhealthy in the long term. ‘