This time of year is full of delicious food. From appetizers, to cocktails, to the main course - there are so many things we humans enjoy during the holidays. While these delicious foods are safe for us to consume, there are many items to avoid giving to your pets. Keep reading to discover foods that are safe to give and discover which foods to avoid giving to your furry family members.
Holiday Foods to Avoid for Pets
Chocolate & Sweets
Avoid giving pets any desserts, especially chocolate! Chocolate is always a big one to steer clear of. Items high in sugar should never be given to pets, as it could upset their tummies or have a toxic effect on their digestive system.
Animal Bones
Poultry and pork bones, or cooked bones of any kind, are strictly forbidden. They splinter into shards that can cause choking and serious damage to the dog's mouth, throat, or intestines.
Onions
Onions contain an ingredient called thiosulphate which is toxic to cats and dogs. The ingestion of onion causes a condition called hemolytic anemia, which is characterized by damage to the red blood cells. Onion toxicity can cause the red blood cells circulating through your pet's body to burst.
Raisins & Grapes
These can be highly toxic to dogs. Although the exact substance that causes the toxic reaction is not yet known, dogs should not eat grapes and raisins because even small amounts can prove to be fatally toxic for a dog.
Coffee & Caffeine
Pets are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than people are. While 1-2 laps of coffee, tea or soda will not contain enough caffeine to cause poisoning in most pets, the ingestion of moderate amounts of coffee grounds, tea bags or 1-2 diet pills can easily cause death in small dogs or cats.
Alcohol
Of course you should never give pets alcohol in any way, shape, or form!
Safe Holiday Foods to Give Pets
Carrots
This vegetable is low in calories and high in fiber and vitamins. Plus, crunching on carrots can be good for dogs' teeth. Plain or cooked carrots are a great item to add into your dog's diet.
Green Beans
If you are trying to get your dog to lose weight OR your dog seems to still be hungry after eating their normal amount of food, you can add some plain cooked green beans into their food bowl. Doing so will not add any calories; however, it will help your dog to feel fuller longer.
Sweet Potatoes
Plain cooked or baked sweet potatoes make an easy snack for your dog!
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is full of awesome benefits for dogs. A couple tablespoons on pumpkin in your dog's food bowl is a great way to add moisture into their diet.
Apples
Sliced apples are a great treat to share with your dog. Apple slices help clean residue off of your dog's teeth & freshens breath, too. Apples are a good source of fiber and Vitamin A + C. Just be sure to take out the seeds and the core before feeding to your dog, as these can be choking hazards.
Turkey
Like chicken, turkey is a lean, white meat that helps dogs build muscle. If you do want to feed your dog some fresh, cooked turkey, make sure the skin is removed and there are no additional spices or salt added to the meat. Table scraps are okay as long as there are no bones inside!