It’s natural to want to spoil your pets during Thanksgiving and other holidays. But sharing your meal can have unfortunate consequences! Read on to learn which traditional holiday foods are dangerous for pets.
Avoid a Thanksgiving Emergency
Imagine the scene… the table set with dazzling finery for a delicious holiday meal. There’s turkey with all the trimmings, the whole family is gathered around and in a good mood, your puppy’s head is resting in your lap and your cat is perched on your shoulder. It’s an image taken straight from a pet-friendly greeting card! But you don’t want your great day to end with a trip to the emergency vet, or worse. So make sure your pet doesn’t consume these traditional holiday treats.
Holiday Foods Dangerous for Pets
Poultry bones
The cooking process causes poultry bones to become dehydrated and brittle. If your pet eats them, they can break and puncture his stomach or intestines.
To avoid accidents and eliminate the temptation to counter-surf, discard the carcass after the turkey is carved. And clear the table promptly when you’re done eating.
Turkey skin
Many holiday foods, like turkey skin and gravy, are high in fat, which is difficult for pets to digest. Fatty foods can cause a very painful condition in animals called pancreatitis. Besides being painful, pancreatitis can also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. No special treat is worth taking that risk! So if you don’t want to eat it, throw the turkey skin in the trash.
READ MORE ⇒ What You Need to Know About Emergency Vets (Before You Need One)
Alcohol
We all know that alcohol poisoning is a human reality. But did you know that alcohol is even more toxic to animals than to humans? Combine their small size and lack of tolerance, and sharing your adult beverage could land you at the emergency vet.
Signs that your pet is in trouble are stupefied, diminished reflexes, followed by slowed breathing rate, cardiac arrest, and death. The best way to protect your pets is for you and your guests to keep your drinks out of reach of curious noses.
Onions
Garlic and onions contain thiosulfate, which causes red blood cells to burst in cats and dogs and can lead to hemolytic anemia. Onions pose the highest risk of toxicity: eating a very small amount can have serious effects. Symptoms to watch for include shortness of breath, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea.
Garlic contains much less thiosulfate, and it is questionable whether a pet could ingest enough to cause harm. In small doses, the health benefits of garlic seem to outweigh the potential risks.
Different types of nuts
Macadamia nuts and pistachios are very high in fat and can cause pancreatitis, discussed above. In addition, macadamias contain an unknown toxin that could cause neurological symptoms.
Pets have difficulty digesting almonds, walnuts and pecans, and these nuts are large enough to cause intestinal obstruction in small animals. There are definitely other snacks that your pet would prefer!
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Chocolate
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are toxic to cats and dogs. Different forms of chocolate contain more or less of these substances, with dry cocoa powder containing the most and white chocolate containing the least.
Dogs and cats have excellent noses, so it’s easy for them to sniff out your hiding places. Make sure you store your chocolate somewhere they can’t get in.
Grapes and raisins
In 1989, a computerized toxicity database helped veterinarians identify grapes and raisins as the cause of sudden kidney failure in dogs. Although the actual toxin remains unidentified, it is clear that raisins contain a more concentrated amount of it: ingestion of only small amounts has been fatal to cats and dogs.
Vomiting and hyperactive behavior are the first signs of poisoning. Diarrhea may occur and after 24 hours the animal may become anorexic, lethargic and depressed. Ultimately, the kidneys can fail. It is therefore important to keep desserts, salad dressings or fruit baskets containing raisins or raisins away from your cat and dog.
Yeast pasta
It may seem unlikely, but your pet’s stomach is the ideal environment for bread to rise. Raw paste eaten by your pet can expand in its stomach and lead to vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating. When making buns or desserts, make sure your pet doesn’t taste the treats until after cooking.
Nutmeg
This popular spice, commonly used to season pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes and my favorite holiday drink, Tom and Jerry, should never be given to your pets. Nutmeg, which has mild hallucinogenic properties, can cause seizures, tremors, and central nervous system problems in pets. In severe cases, shock and even death have been reported.
Plain pumpkin and sweet potatoes are good for your pets. So reserve some to share with them before adding the other ingredients.
Milk
Animals’ bodies do not create significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose found in milk), so milk and other dairy products can give them diarrhea or other digestive upsets that can lead to dehydration. Be sure to limit the amount of dairy products your pets consume as an ingredient in the foods you may give them.
READ MORE ⇒ Tips for Being a Thoughtful Guest with Pets
Healthier Holiday Treats for Pets
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If you just can’t resist your pet’s puppy eyes, stuff some turkey flavor, some plain sweet potatoes, a few green beans, and a spoonful of mashed potatoes into a KONG. A small amount of food will keep him busy for a long time. And you can enjoy your meal without guilt.
If your dog or cat eats any of the holiday foods that are unsafe for pets, call the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Pet Poison Control at 1-888-426-4435 or your local pet poisoning clinic. local pet emergency.
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