Thanksgiving marks the first of many food-filled celebrations this holiday season. Pets are a part of our families and play a role in many of our celebrations. While the temptation to feed table scraps is strong, many holiday foods can cause digestive distress or be downright toxic for our furry friends. Here is a list of some of some common holiday foods that are dangerous (and some that are safe for sharing).
Dangerous/Avoid Feeding
Ham: The amount of fat, sodium and sugar in the average holiday ham makes this dinner staple a no go for your pets.
Turkey Skin and Cooked Bones: Turkey skin is fatty and generally heavily seasoned making it a potential trigger for digestive distress in your pet. Cooked bones are a choking hazard and have a great likelihood of splintering, which can cause intestinal damage and blockages.
Alcohol: Even small amounts of alcohol can be dangerous to your pet. Many celebrations include wine, beer and/or liquor and all are toxic to your pet.
Stuffing: This tasty addition to the holiday table often includes a number of ingredients that are toxic to pets, such as onions and garlic. It is also generally heavily seasoned, and sodium packed, neither of which is ideal for your pet.
Baked Goods and Sweets: Play it safe and avoid all sweets to keep the holiday safe for your pet. Xylitol (an artificial sweetener), chocolate, raisins, nuts and a number of other ingredients that are in many holiday sweets can poison your pet. It isn't worth the risk to gamble and end up with a sick pet. Have some tasty snacks, we recommend Grandma Lucy's Oven Baked Treats, so your pup can have desert with you safely.
Gravy: While this food seems like it would be a safe bet, it's heavy seasoning and sodium content make it a poor choice for your pet's bowl.
Safe in Small Quantities
Turkey: You can offer some plain, skinless and boneless turkey to your pet as a tasty holiday treat.
Green Beans: Fresh or frozen green beans are a healthy snack for your pet. Just make sure to skip giving your fur kid canned green beans and green bean casserole, as they are sodium packed and the later includes ingredients that aren't safe.
Apples: This crunchy, sweet treat is a great snack for your pet. Make sure you remove the seeds and cut it into small pieces to make it easier to chew and digest.
Pumpkin: Digestion friendly and tasty pumpkin can make for a great addition to your pet's holiday bowl. Make sure your pumpkin is 100% pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie mix as some of the spices in it, such as nutmeg, aren't good for pets.
Sweet Potato: This fiber packed super-food is a great treat for your pet. While sweet potatoes are safe (and healthy) for your pet, you should avoid feeding sweet potato pies and casseroles with added ingredients that may not be safe. To include this great food in your pet's holiday meal we recommend grabbing some Grandma Lucy's or Canine Caviar sweet potato dog treats.
Carrots: Raw or cooked carrots make a safe and nutritious snack for your pet.
To wrap it up your pet can have a safe AND tasty holiday with the family by using caution in what you are putting in their bowl. In the case of potential poisoning keep this number handy: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Phone Number: (888) 426-4435. They are available 24/7, 365 days a year to help you navigate a potential emergency.
