It’s that time of year again…the weather is getting cooler and the holidays are fast approaching. One of the best parts of the holiday season is the vast array of treats and homemade goods that are often present at home and at the office. Although this season is enjoyable for humans (well, maybe not to our waistlines), there are some common foods that can present emanate danger to our pets if ingested.
Here are some common holiday foods to be weary of if you have pets:
- Onions & Garlic – these two common ingredients are used in flavoring roasts, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravies, etc; because both onions and garlic contain the toxic ingredient called thiosulphate, many pets may develop anemia or even gastroenteritis.
- Grapes & Raisins – you may find grapes and raisins in your holiday fruit salads or even desserts. These small, seemingly harmless fruits can actually be very poisonous to pets. Grapes and raisins can cause damage to their kidneys and may even be fatal to some.
- Caffeine – it is not unusual for you and your guests to drink soda during the festivities or even have coffee with dessert; yet you should never share caffeinated beverages with your pets as it can negatively affect their heart and nervous system.
- Chocolate – this common human food is probably the most well known health hazard to pets. Chocolate poisoning can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, irregular heart rate and irregular heart beat.
- Turkey bones – it seems almost nostalgic that a dog would get a bone to chew on as a treat; after all, we’ve seen it countless times in classic cartoons, TV shows and movies. Yet giving your pet a bone can cause serious complications such as choking, which can prove to be fatal.
Some ideas on how to keep your pets safe during the holiday festivites are to:
- Feed them before your guests arrive to help curb their desire to beg
- Instead of people food, allow guests to give them low fat / low calorie treats specifically made for their species (you will probably want to feed them a little less at their normal meal time to compensate for this)
- If you don’t feel either of these two options would work, you could always put them in a quiet room that won’t be used by your guests
On behalf of all of us at DeBary Animal Clinic, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season to you and your family!