The holidays often coincide with families coming together around the dinner table, sharing large amounts of food. Dogs usually aren’t far away from the festivities nestling their noises by the table and targeting anyone who may give them a piece of turkey or scoop of mashed potatoes.
However, not everything on the holiday menu is safe for dogs.
Experts at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Grafton shared with MassLive important guidelines that every dog owner and their guests should know this holiday season.
“Some dogs have sensitive stomachs and shouldn’t have any sudden changes in food that might result in vomiting or loose stools,” The Cummings School said. “If your dog doesn’t have any medical conditions, they can have up to 10% of their daily calories from treats including some human foods.”
Foods to avoid
- Large amounts of treats of any kind - Yes, they may be dog food, but during the holidays guests and owners can be too much into the giving season.
- Cooking twine - The strings from the turkey or roast aren’t good for humans and dogs should avoid them too. Teriyaki sticks should also be avoided.
- Rich, fatty foods - This includes fatty meats and meats or vegetables cooked in oil. Cheese and ice cream can also cause vomiting or pancreatitis.
- Turkey skin
- Raw meat, bones, or eggs - These foods can contain dangerous bacteria for dogs.
- Chocolate - One of the more well-known foods that dogs should avoid. It can be toxic, causing everything from an upset stomach to seizures and potentially death.
- Xylitol sugar substitute - It is extremely toxic to dogs and can cause severe, very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and/or severe liver failure and even death.
- Bones of any kind (raw or cooked) - While dogs love chewing them, they can cause an obstruction in the intestines or damage teeth.
- Raisins and grapes - The can damage a dog’s kidneys.
- Garlic and onion - These foods can cause red blood cell problems.
- Macadamia nuts
Fine in moderation
- Small amount of cooked white meat turkey breast.
- Baby carrots, raw or cooked.
- Green beans, plain, raw or cooked.
- Pumpkin puree but not pumpkin pie filling.
- Apples, chopped or plain, but avoid the core.
- Bananas, oranges, strawberries, blueberries and melon.
Additional Tips
- The Cummings School advises dog owners to speak with their guests before eating to discuss what dogs can and can’t have. It’s especially to speak with young children about which food dogs can eat.
- All trash cans and waste receptacles should be double-checked to make sure they are fastened tight. Dogs can be experts at getting into places/things they aren’t supposed to.
If an owner suspects their pet ingested something that could be toxic, they should call their veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
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