Safer Holiday Goodies for Your Pet
Of course, a lean and healthy lifestyle is best for all pets. But during the holidays, it’s natural to want to include your furry family members in family celebrations, including allowing him to taste certain goodies that are not a part of his normal diet.
No matter how much our pets beg for a bite, anything out of the norm can lead to GI upset. Although people overindulge and just require a nap, your pets pigging out can make for an unhappy, very messy holiday.
Making good choices for your pets and dolling out the goods in moderation will make for a safe and happy celebration for everyone. Here’s what to avoid, as well as some safer options:
- Pork, especially ham, has the highest fat content, so it’s best not to offer it at all. Keep your pets safe by choosing leaner meat treats.
- Dogs love bites of bread, but keep the uncooked yeast rolls out of reach. Alcohol from the fermenting yeast is poisonous and can cause a pet’s stomach to expand and bloat.
- Cooked plain carrots and green beans are excellent low-cal choices.
- Morsels of turkey are a good choice for the beggars under the table but remove the fatty skin.
- Don’t let them chow down on the stuffing. Onions, chives, scallions, and garlic are toxic to dogs and cats.
- No bones about it, bones are always bad for lots of reasons. Avoid them completely.
- Mashed potatoes with butter and cream can cause diarrhea, but roasted plain potatoes are good and easy to catch across the room.
- Apples are crunchy and contain good nutrients, but grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure.
- Chocolate and dessert recipes with Xylitol and nutmeg aren’t a sweet treat for pets, ever.
- Dogs love sweet potatoes (without the butter, cream, and marshmallows) and they support a healthy digestive system thanks to their high dietary fiber content.
Much like people, the key to healthy holiday treats for your pets’ is moderation. Even when you’re offering the healthy goodies on our list, don’t overdo. Too much of any new food can cause severe stomach issues for pets and people!
