THE British Veterinary Association and British Small Animal Veterinary Association are urging pet owners in East Lancashire to watch out for hazards to their pets this Christmas.

Chocolate and tinsel are very festive but vets are increasingly concerned by the health problems they cause animals.

The tasty Christmas lunch for human members of the family can pose real dangers for dogs. Turkey bones, onions, garlic, and raisins all have the potential to make your pet seriously ill, and in the case of small bones, even require surgery to remove.

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Vet John Blackwell, BVA president, said: “For the whole family, Christmas is a special time and of course we want to include our much loved pets in the festive fun.

“But “Owners should be very aware that tasty treats and shiny baubles, which pets find hard to resist, can be toxic and dangerous. for our four legged friends. Last year my practice treated four dogs with chocolate poisoning over Christmas week. Our advice is to keep human goodies, particularly chocolate, away from pets”