Before your dog or cat slides across the floor to snatch a tasty holiday morsel, learn which foods hold the biggest dangers. A pet’s delicate digestive system is nothing to mess around with (pun intended).
Here's a handy guide:
- Chocolate is toxic.
- Anything sweetened with xylitol can be poisonous.
- Protect your crafty critter from their own curiosity. Keep unattended plates of food out of reach and secure the lids to your trash bin.
- Keep fatty or spicy food away from pets.
- Plain turkey is not toxic to dogs. When it has butter, herbs and spices, it can lead to pancreatitis.
- Ham and other pork products can be high in sodium and nitrites, which can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination, lethargy and abnormal fluid accumulation.
- Dressing or stuffing made with onions, scallions or garlic can be extremely toxic to dogs and cats.
- Bones can cause severe indigestion, obstruct the bowel, or splinter and damage the intestines and stomach.
- Mashed potatoes with butter and milk can cause issues for lactose intolerant pets. Add garlic and the "taters" are toxic.
- Alcohol is another no-no for pets. It can actually kill your pet.
- Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in pets.
If you aren’t sure you can control what drops to the floor, put your pet in another room until the feasting and clean up is over.
