A Perthshire vet clinic has warned pet owners in the region about the dangers of feeding animals sweet treats this Christmas.

Harvey Carruthers, partner at Tay Valley Vets and Equine Centre in Perth, has highlighted the everyday foods that can mean an unexpected, and potentially serious, trip to the clinic.

This comes after the British Veterinary Association (BVA) urged pet owners to add house ‘pet proofing’ to their Christmas to-do lists to ensure that potential edible hazards and other risky items are out of reach.

Eighty-three per cent of Scottish vets who had treated a companion animal in 2017, reported cases of toxic ingestion over the Christmas break, a survey by BVA has revealed.

Harvey said: “Every Christmas season we see many dogs, and the occasional cat, who has eaten chocolate, usually stolen from under the Christmas tree, or from the kitchen table when everyone is out of the room.

“Luckily, with a quick trip to the vets things can be remedied but some dogs can become unwell, or even die.

“Dogs can also become ill through eating raisins or sultanas in Christmas pudding, or from swallowing small baubles, or tinsel from Christmas decorations.

“‘Turkey tummy’ from eating the leftovers on Boxing Day is yet another potential problem.”

Chocolate treats remain top of the edible hazards with 78 per cent of UK vets treating a dog for this type of poisoning.

Cats are also no strangers to a veterinary appointment at Christmas.

BVA junior vice president, Daniella Dos Santos said: “Christmas is a time of fun and festivities for many families in the UK but presents, decorations and treats such as advent calendars can prove dangerous for pets.

“It’s good to be aware of what you have wrapped up underneath the tree such as chocolate treats, as the smells can prove irresistible to curious dogs.

“Decorations such as tinsel and baubles can result in the need for surgery to remove them from the gastrointestinal tract.

“We advise owners to keep presents, decorations and festive treats safely out of reach of pets.

“If you are concerned that they have eaten something they shouldn’t, consult your vet straight away.”

To find a vet facility, go to https://findavet.rcvs.org.uk/home/