The holidays are a time for family, friends, and food. Lots of it. As we sit down to enjoy our festive meals, it’s important to remember that not all human foods are safe for our pets. Some can even be toxic.

Most human food is bad for our pets because it’s too salty, greasy, or sugary. If your pet eats some of your holiday dinners, it might get diarrhea. If they start vomiting, take them to the vet because they could have pancreatitis or another serious illness.

Keeping yourself and your loved ones safe from toxins is important all year round, but especially during holidays when people travel more and are in closer contact with each other.

Garlic, onions, leeks, and chives may make human Thanksgiving dishes taste great, but these are all big no-nos for cats and dogs. Eating garlic, onions, leeks, or chives can cause gastrointestinal issues or anemia (abnormally low blood count) in pets. Many holiday dishes contain one or more of these ingredients – like turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, or green bean casserole – so before you drop a little treat for your pet this Thanksgiving season be sure that everyone in the know about the consequences first.

Bones

It may be tempting to give your furry friend a bone from the dinner table, but it’s not worth the risk. Small bones can cause choking hazards or other internal blockages and cut bones can splinter and cause gastrointestinal damage.

Chocolate

Most people focus on apple, pumpkin, or pecan pies during Thanksgiving, but chocolate also manages to make its way into many desserts. Unfortunately for our furry friends though, chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine – both of which are toxic to dogs and Cats. The sugar in non-chocolate desserts can also cause diarrhea in your pet; not exactly what you want after a big holiday feast.

Alcohol

Alcohol can negatively affect your pet such as lowering their blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature; so it’s best not to let them drink from your beverage.

Other toxins to stay clear of:

Candy without sugar

Grapes and raisins

Caffeine

Yeasted dough (raw bread or pastry dough)

Happy (and safe) eating, friends!

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