Your pet snagged holiday scraps — here's what's OK and what's toxic
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You're in the kitchen, trying to juggle different recipes for holiday mains and sides — and amid the chaos, a piece of food drops on the floor.
- Your four-legged fur baby, who's been watching you like a hawk, quickly snatches it before you can even react.
- Depending on what your pet ate, you may be in for either a vet bill or an uneventful day.
Why it matters: We love our pets and can't resist the occasional sharing of table food with them, but there are some things veterinarians say they cannot eat.
- And with the holidays upon us, you may be hosting friends or family members who don't know what's safe and what's toxic.
What they're saying: Dr. Matthew Roper, medical director at VCA Roswell Animal Hospital, said the clinic typically sees a few cases of pets coming in during the holiday season with gastrointestinal issues caused by table food.
- That could include diarrhea, vomiting and in serious cases, pancreatitis.
- Roper said his fellow veterinarians and staff members advise their clients to keep pets out of the kitchen and keeping things "up and away as much as possible."
- That includes putting food away quickly when you're done eating and making sure the garbage is secured.
- "Once everybody's settled, the dogs get into the garbage and eat the turkey bones, the chicken bones or whatever may be around, and that can be pretty dangerous too," he said.
What can't pets eat? Anything seasoned with onions or garlic is a major no-no for pets, as is chocolate and anything with grapes or raisins, Roper told Axios.
- He also said some dogs have issues with tomatoes and other foods with citrus seasonings and flavors.
- The ASPCA also recommends avoiding milk and dairy products, salt and salty foods, nuts, and anything with xylitol.
- Ham is not advisable due to its high sodium content, the American Kennel Club says.
What's safe: Stick with fruits like apples, bananas and blueberries and vegetables like unseasoned green beans, carrots, peas and sweet potatoes.
- If you're serving turkey, make sure to only feed parts that are unseasoned.
- Keep any table food you serve to your pets to a very small amount, Roper said.
The big picture: The holidays could also be a stressful time if your pets are unfamiliar with your guests or not used to large gatherings.
- Anti-anxiety medication could work, Roper told Axios.
- For dogs, items like chew toys, interactive puzzles, Kong toys stuffed with treats and snuffle mats can help keep them mentally stimulated.
- If all else fails, allowing them to run around in a fenced yard and sniff the environment around them helps burn off excess energy.
- Roper said it may be harder to medicate some cats, so diffuser kits like Feliway can help with anxiety.