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Some Holiday foods are harmful to pets.

Though we want all of the members of our family to enjoy in the holiday festivities, there are some health concerns you’ll want to be aware of to ensure the health and safety of your pets this Thanksgiving meal. It’s fun to include some tasty treats or a hand out from the Thanksgiving table in your pets diet for the special day, but not all foods fit for humans are great for your dogs or cats. Some even present serious health risks. For the best pet health tips for Thanksgiving, please enjoy the following article.

6 Dangerous Thanksgiving Foods for Pets

By: Dr. Eva Evans, a veterinarian and writer for Pets Best, a dog insurance and cat insurance agency

It’s that time of year again! Thanksgiving is almost here, and that means an abundance of delicious food. However, many food items that people enjoy aren’t healthy for pets to consume. This is important to remember during holiday meals, when dogs and cats beg for table scraps and guests might fall for those cute faces.

To ensure your pets remain healthy this Thanksgiving, below are six dishes to keep away from your pets. Be sure to inform your family and dinner guests about these potentially toxic or dangerous foods so they do not feed them to your pets.

1. Stuffing

Thanksgiving dressing is often made with onions, scallions or garlic. These ingredients are extremely toxic to dogs and cats and can cause a life-threatening anemia (destruction of the red blood cells). It’s best to avoid feeding any amount of stuffing to pets.

2. Ham

Ham and other pork products can cause pancreatitis, upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea. Ham tends to be high in fat as well, which can lead to obesity in pets. Even a small amount of ham can contribute a very large amount of calories in a small dog or cat.

3. Turkey Bones

Bones can cause severe indigestion in dogs and cats, potentially causing vomiting and obstructing the bowel. Bones may also splinter and cause damage to the inside of the stomach and intestines. In some cases, turkey bones may even puncture through the stomach and cause a potentially fatal abdominal infection.

4. Mashed Potatoes

While potatoes are safe for pets to eat, mashed potatoes usually contain butter and milk, which can cause diarrhea in pets that experience lactose intolerance. Additionally, some recipes call for onion powder or garlic, which are very toxic to pets.

5. Salads with Grapes/Raisins

There are many salads served at Thanksgiving that include grapes or raisins as ingredients, such as fruit salad, waldorf salad and ambrosia. However, grapes and raisins are very toxic and potentially deadly. Grapes can cause severe, irreversible and sometimes fatal kidney failure in dogs. Be sure to keep all dishes that include grapes and raisins away from pets.

6. Chocolate Pie

While pumpkin pie is the most famous Thanksgiving dessert, many people offer a variety of pies at Thanksgiving, including chocolate pie. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, yet dogs love the smell and taste of it. The darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is. Keep chocolate pie and all chocolate desserts out of the reach of pets to prevent an emergency trip to the veterinarian.

If your pets ingest any of these foods this Thanksgiving, be sure to call your veterinarian immediately. Early action may prevent more costly and serious complications from developing. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

For more information about Pets Best, visit www.petsbest.com.

Pet health and pet safety are so very important, especially when it comes to our own cats, dogs, and other pets. Lets keep our pets healthy and follow these pet safety tips this Thanksgiving holiday, so our pets can live long, happy lives with us.

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