CLEVELAND, Ohio — The holidays are a time for eating, drinking and being merry with loved ones, and it's understandably tempting to share some of that food with your pet.
But veterinarians say to proceed with extreme caution.
"Despite what their puppy dog eyes are telling you, there are certainly some foods that they should have and some foods they shouldn't have."
We talked with Dr. Danielle Bernal, Wellness Natural Pet Food Veterinarian, who says "yes" you can spoil your pets just a bit. But first you have to know what's safe to feed your pets from the holiday meal.
"You can give them some of that nice sliced white turkey breast meat, a few other toppings, you know, not quite the same size. You could do raw carrots and apples, or you could even do some of those steamed sweet potato or pumpkin," Dr. Bernal said.
Here are the guidelines for safe food for your pets:
- White turkey meat, no skin and avoid the turkey altogether if heavily seasoned.
- Raw carrots and apples are good too.
- And we're talking about sweet potato and pumpkin "sides" - not the dessert.
- And if it has a lot of added ingredients, especially sugar, skip it.
"There are certain ingredients and some we know, for example chocolate or candies rich in xylitol, are a no-go," said Dr. Bernal.
In addition to xylitol and chocolate, steer clear of grapes and raisins at all costs. Dogs can't metabolize tannins, flavonoids and monosaccharides from these fruits. They risk sudden kidney failure -- even death.
Dr. Bernal also cautions against giving your pet some of those turkey leftovers.
"There's often that carcass where you're like, 'Oh, my dog would love those bones.' That's a definite no-no because once they've been cooked, those bones will shatter as your dog chews them," she said.
If ingested, it could puncture your pet's intestinal tract, leaving this Thanksgiving as a holiday to remember for all the wrong reasons.
Here is a comprehensive list of Thanksgiving foods that should be off the menu for dogs because they're dangerous and/or toxic or they're simply a recipe for gastrointestinal upset:
- Turkey bones, skin, and gravy
- Ham
- Stuffing
- Casseroles
- Creamed peas
- Alcoholic beverages
- Foods with spices
- Fatty foods
- Yeast dough
- Grapes and raisins
- Chocolate
- Cookies
- Pies
- Desserts
- Onions
- Chives
- Scallions
- Garlic
- Butter
- Sour cream
- Salt and pepper
Dr. Bernal recommends a nice Kong-type toy that you can stuff with their favorite, vet-approved treat. This will keep them busy and engaged while you dine.
If you do pick out a few safe Thanksgiving treats, remember that the caloric intake should be no more than 10% of their daily allowance.
It's not uncommon for dogs to show some changes in their stool after they've indulged in foods that are not part of their daily diet. If it persists for more than a day or two, or you notice they're drinking lots of water, appear listless, or if they are showing signs of belly pain, it's time to call your veterinarian.