Should Your Pets Enjoy Those Holiday Leftovers?

  Posted on December 26, 2010  by Joy of Living  No comments

Jessie, the consummate “foodie:”  As a member of the canine species, my choices in food are somewhat limited.  While I would LOVE to partake in all of the mouth-watering delights you humans enjoy, I do realize that ingesting some of them may cause considerable more harm than good to my sometimes-sensitive digestive system. So, if you are wondering if you should feed that adorable pet of yours some of those holiday leftovers, you may want to consider what you give him.

You should avoid any items that you know will upset his tummy.  If you are aware of digestive troubles in the past, then avoid giving him any new foods, especially in big portions, or when combined with other foods.  Do not consider giving your pet huge portions of any type of food, let alone anything high in fat or super spicy.  I don’t want your pet to decorate your carpet with his leftovers, if you know what I mean!

Your pet should not consume anything with onions, garlic, leeks, scallions or other alliums.  Ingesting these foods can lead to toxic anemia, especially in dogs.  Also, be careful with the turkey stuffing. Many recipes contain onions.

Of course, chocolate is a big no-no.  It causes abnormally high heart rhythms in dogs, among other issues.

Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs, and, when given in large quantities over time, can cause serious health issues.  Don’t even tempt fate here.

The sugar substitute xylitol is very toxic.  While many people may not cook with this, many diabetics often do.  Be aware that sugar-free cupcakes, gums, and mints may contain this product.

We know how delicious macadamia nuts are.  Just don’t offer any to your pets.

And, please, as obvious as it sounds, no alcohol!  Pets are far more susceptible to its effects than humans are.

So…what CAN your pet enjoy from the holiday tray of leftovers? Well, turkey is good.  Trim off the excess fat and skin and make sure there are no bones in the pieces you may give to your pet.  How about those mashed potatoes?  Yummy!  Just be careful with the added ingredients of cheese, sour cream, onions, and gravy.  That cranberry sauce sure looks sweet, but only give it in a very small amount, as it can be high in sugar. Plain pasta or macaroni is a good treat, too.  And for that veggie-loving pet of yours, give him some green beans.  Just make sure they are plain and not mixed in with something like a green bean casserole.  This is a great holiday treat for your pet!

Well, now that I have roused my appetite a bit, I am going to mosey over to the fridge to see what kinds of goodies I can find before that mangy cat Bo is overcome with hunger.  Around here, if you snooze, you lose!

(Thanks to petmd.com for this helpful information!)