It’s that time of the year! The holidays are just around the corner and, although your plans might be slightly altered due to covid restrictions, we once again get to enjoy delicious home cooked meals with family and friends. Of course you’ll want to include our pets in the holiday experience, but it’s important to do so safely.
It’s not uncommon to feed pets leftover scraps of food we don’t want for ourselves. As pet owners, it’s important to understand that there are certain foods that we should avoid feeding them. The following is a list of those frequent holiday foods that are toxic to animals and could possibly cause them agitated digestion:
- Bone
- Fat
- Sour cream
- Butter
- Onions or mushrooms (in large amounts)
- Garlic
- Stuffing
- Gravy
- Dark meat
- Grapes/raisins
- Chocolate
- Pie
Just to be clear, turkey is absolutely okay to feed to your pet, as long as it is strictly white meat and is not being fed in too large of a portion size. Sweet potatoes are also fine, as long as you pick off any marshmallows that may have been baked on top.
As guests sit down with their plates, do not be afraid to remind them not to sneak any food under the table! It may be hard for them to say no to a dog who is crying at their feet, but it is much better to be safe than sorry.
If your pet somehow ends up eating any questionable foods, the signs of toxic food poisoning include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lack of appetite
- Fever
- Whimpering
In case of an emergency, contact your local veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Be prepared to tell which food your pet digested!
Finally, as we prepare for this holiday season, remember to keep an eye out for any unattended plates and pieces of food that unknowingly fall from the table. We can easily avoid any serious situations, as long as we just recognize the foods to keep away. Most importantly, have a happy (and safe) Thanksgiving!
