The holidays are all
about family. And that includes your furry family members. To keep
your pets safe, be aware of the dangers of Thanksgiving leftovers. If
you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it’s
boneless and well-cooked. Don’t offer raw or undercooked turkey,
which may contain salmonella bacteria. Here are their warnings and
recommendations:
Fatty Table
Scraps
Fatty table scraps
like gravy, turkey skin, etc. are potentially dangerous to your dog,
as it can result in severe pancreatitis. Certain breeds are
especially sensitive, including miniature schnauzers, Shetland
sheepdogs, and Yorkshire terriers. Even a piece of bacon can trigger
pancreatitis in dogs, so when in doubt, don’t feed it to your dog
or cat!
No Bones or
Turkey Legs
Feeding your dog
bones and turkey legs is risk for a possible foreign body
obstruction. The bones can also get stuck in the stomach or
intestines, potentially resulting in a perforation (or rupture) of
the intestines.
Green Beans are
Okay
Plain green beans are a
wonderful treat for pets. Fresh vegetables are a great addition to
any diet. If the green beans are included in a green bean casserole
though, be conscious of the other ingredients in it.
Watch Out for
Onions
Nothing with alliums
(onions, garlic, leeks, scallions) should be ingested by your pet.
While it is true that small, well-cooked portions of these foods can
be okay if your pet is used to it, ingesting these foods in large
quantities can lead to toxic anemia.
Grapes and
Raisins are Toxic
Many
people are unaware that grapes, and subsequently raisins, can be
toxic to pets. The fruit has been shown to cause kidney failure in
dogs.
No
Alcohol
Alcohol is
definitely a big no for pets. What we people may consider a small
amount can be toxic for a smaller animal. Also, keep in mind that
alcohol poisoning can occur in pets from atypical items like fruit
cake (the recipe may have called for rum or other liquor), as well as
unbaked bread.
No Artificial
Sweeteners
While you may be
making the healthier choice by cooking with artificial sweeteners
over the real thing, sweeteners containing Xylitol are poisonous to
animals, and potentially deadly to dogs.
Macaroni and
Cheese is Okay
If you know
your pet’s stomach handles dairy alright, macaroni and cheese is a
safe leftover to share. If you are unsure though, it may be best to
just give plain macaroni. Cats often develop lactose intolerance when
they become adults.
No
Chocolate
Chocolate is a
well known off limits indulgence for pets. During the holidays
however, baking chocolate is used in recipes and sometimes forgotten
about by the time the dishes hit the table. Make sure this holiday
season that your pet does not ingest any chocolate, especially the
baking kind.
A Little
Cranberry Sauce is Okay
Cranberry
sauce is just fine for pets but watch the amount of sugar in it. It
is probably best to only provide a small helping to your pet’s
plate.
No Sage
Sage
and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause
gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets
if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the
effects of certain essential oils.
No Bread
Dough
Don’t spoil your
pet’s holiday by giving him raw bread dough. When raw bread dough
is ingested, an animal’s body heat causes the dough to rise in his
stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe
abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening
emergency, requiring surgery.
No Raw Batter
If
you’re baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their
noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they
could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.
Watch
Overeating
A few small
boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a
lick of pumpkin pie shouldn’t pose a problem. However, don’t
allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of
stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of
the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it’s best keep pets on
their regular diets during the holidays.
Wrappings
Dispose
of aluminum foil, plastic wrap and wax paper. While licking up food
left on these wrappings pets can ingest some of the wrapper, leading
to intestinal obstructions. Also, look out for tooth picks, skewers
and used silverware.
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