Family gatherings with festive foods are a holiday tradition, but before you indulge your pet with a hunk of ham or bite of cookie, it’s important to be aware of holiday food dangers for pets.
To keep your holiday celebrations merry and bright for your cats and dogs, follow these holiday food safety tips from our caring team at Brownswitch Pet Hospital.
Holiday Foods on the Naughty List
Holiday food dangers for pets lurk in many of our traditional favorites. This list is by no means exhaustive, but here are some commonly served holiday foods toxic for dogs/cats:
Bulb vegetables: Onions, garlic, leeks, and shallots often used for seasoning stuffing, potatoes, and gravy can lead to hemolytic anemia in pets.
Foods containing too much fat or grease: Ham, poultry skin, and butter are just a few samples of high-fat foods that can cause pancreatitis in pets.
Yeast: Fresh-baked dinner rolls are a holiday staple, but if your dog ingests uncooked dough, the yeast will grow in your dog’s tummy, which can lead to dangerous bloat and toxic levels of ethanol in your dog’s bloodstream.
Chocolate: Always on the naughty list, chocolate is extremely toxic for pets—and the darker the chocolate, the worse it is.
Sugary snacks: Sweet treats are the stuff of sugar plum dreams for people, but holiday pies, cookies, and other desserts can lead to digestive problems for pets.
Dried fruits and nuts: Raisins, figs, and nuts (particularly macadamia nuts) should never be shared with pets, so keep the fruitcake and figgy pudding away from Fido.
Grapes: Holiday fruit trays are healthy, right? Not necessarily for pets. Grapes are highly toxic for dogs and can lead to acute kidney problems.
Bones: Keep turkey bones secured in a covered trash bin to protect pets from choking or otherwise being injured by splintered bones.
Xylitol: This artificial sweetener can hide in places like peanut butter and sugar-free desserts. It is a potentially fatal poison for cats and dogs.
Alcohol: Toasting the holidays with eggnog or champagne is a common ritual, but alcohol is never safe for pets. Alcohol causes severe distress in pets, including dizziness and vomiting.
Holiday Favorites on the Nice List
The list of holiday foods toxic for dogs/cats can seem overwhelming, but you’ll be glad to know that plenty of foods are safe for pets in small portions and when served without seasonings and gravies.
Treat your pet with small samples of the following:
- White meat turkey
- Ham minus the glaze (and with as little fat as possible)
- Steamed carrots, green beans, peas, unseasoned mashed sweet potatoes
- Pumpkin puree
- Fresh cranberries or blueberries
We’re here to help you keep your pets healthy all year long with expert wellness care that includes nutritional consultations. Contact us to schedule a visit or for more tips regarding holiday food dangers for pets.