As the holidays approach, many people are baking delicious treats and meals for friends and family members. Your pet will no doubt be very interested in sampling those yummy dishes! While it’s fine to include your four-legged pal in your seasonal festivities, you want to be very careful with what you feed your pet, as many of our favorite foods are dangerous to our beloved animal companions. In this article, a Galloway, OH veterinarian lists some holiday foods that are dangerous for our furry friends.
Your furry little carnivore may be begging for some of that savory holiday turkey, but be sure to remove any bones before obliging. Bones are very bad for pets! Cooked bones are especially dangerous, because they are brittle and can easily break and choke your furry friend, or damage their digestive system.
Your furball may get very bright-eyed at the smell or taste of fat, but at the end of the day, this really isn’t a healthy treat. Just give your four-legged pal plain, cooked meat, without fat or gravy.
Garlic and onions may be good for you, but they’re definitely not good for our furry pals. Chives, scallions, and leeks are also on the no-no list. Make sure you don’t inadvertently give Fido or Fluffy foods that have been seasoned with these popular ingredients!
Grapes, currants, and raisins are all very toxic to pets. Some animals are seriously affected after eating tiny amounts of these fruits. Your furry pal could get very sick just by eating one grape!
Xylitol is very, very dangerous for our furry companions, and is especially concerning because it is in so many processed foods. Sugar-free gum, candy, and baked goods are just a few things that contain xylitol. Never feed your pet anything without checking the ingredients first!
Chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol are all toxic to pets. You’ll also want to avoid giving your little one raw dough; avocados; and anything with seeds or pits, such as apple or pears. Give your furbaby cooked, plain meat or fish; sodium-free broth; homemade pet treats; or cooked safe veggies, such as carrots, beans, or sweet potatoes. Ask your vet for more specific recommendations.
Happy Holidays! Please contact us, your Galloway, OH veterinary clinic, anytime. We are here to help!
