PET owners should be careful not to overindulge their animals as a practice listed some of the emergencies it has dealt with during previous festive seasons.

Grange Vets, in Stockton, Teesside, is preparing for a flurry of cases of pets being brought in with potentially fatal poisoning – more than at any other time of year, with animals which have eaten chocolate, mince pies, Christmas cake and pudding.

Other festive hazards include poinsettias, pine needles, holly berries and mistletoe, all of which can cause illness if eaten by pets.

In recent years pets have also been brought into Grange Vets having eaten tinsel, or twinkling lights and tree decorations.

Other pet emergencies can be caused by dogs choking or suffering internal damage from turkey bones.

Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine which is toxic to dogs, while raisins, currants and sultanas in mince pies and Christmas cake are also poisonous.

Clinical Director Kim Taylor-Morton said: “During December, we see many cases of pets that have eaten something they shouldn’t have and the number increases as we get closer to Christmas Day.

“We see a lot of examples of poisoning over the festive period. In most cases, the owner was completely unaware of the hidden dangers and was simply intending to be kind to their pet.

“You don’t want a poorly pet or a trip to the vets over Christmas. Even worse, would be losing a pet over the festive period, so we urge owners to be extra careful.

“We see a lot of cases of dogs stealing the Christmas turkey or taking chocolate from the under the tree, so it is important to keep food and treats out of reach of pets.

“If your pet eats something it shouldn’t, contact your vet straight away and make sure you provide a full report on what has been eaten, how much and when.

“The faster we can see a pet, the better so we can induce vomiting if necessary and assess the level of toxicity.

“If your pet is a scavenger, it may be best to keep any left overs in a cupboard out of reach."