Kiko after she’d been given an injection to make her sick
Last week, one of my own dogs, Kiko, needed emergency veterinary care after she greedily devoured a Christmas pudding that she’d stolen. I had to make her forcibly sick, to empty her stomach. Why? Because raisins (which are numerous in Christmas puddings) can kill dogs.
Cats aren’t usually raisin-eaters, but they have their own particular Christmas hazard to avoid: lilies. The classic situation is that they get lily pollen on their coat, then lick it off while grooming themselves. A day later, they stop eating and start to be sick: the signs of potentially fatal renal failure.
My latest article at the Telegraph has more about these common but little known Christmas hazards (and some of the better known issues like chocolate).
Please note that I am unable to answer veterinary questions in comments. If you have questions or concerns about your pet's health it is always better to contact your vet.