Pet Corner: Onion, avocado and other foods that are toxic for your pets

Grapes or raisins are highly toxic for dogs and they should be kept far away from your pet.

With just a few days to Christmas, chances are our homes are full to the brim of festive treats, from turkey and ham to selection boxes and tins of sweets. It's been a difficult year so it's only understandable that we might treat ourselves to some extra supplies of nice things, but if you want to keep Christmas merry and carefree, make sure to keep these away from any four-legged friends who share your home. No one wants to cut their festivities short for a trip to the vet.

It's common knowledge at this stage that dogs and cats should be kept away from any kind of chocolate. It's toxic, with a small amount of chocolate likely to give a dog an upset stomach leading to vomiting or diarrhea, and a large amount having the potential to cause muscle tremors, seizures, an irregular heartbeat, internal bleeding or a heart attack. In short, keep those cardboard boxes out of your pet's reach in a high cupboard or similar.