Chances are, there are a handful of foods that you know you shouldn’t be giving to your pet. There are some obvious ones: chocolate and xylitol are the first that come to mind. As Thanksgiving approaches here in State College, pet parents should do their best to stick to feeding their pets specially-formulated and healthy pet foods. This will ensure that your pets are receiving adequate nutrition and won’t get sick over the holidays.
Nonetheless, it can be really difficult to resist the puppy dog eyes forever. When the smell of mouth-watering food is impossible to resist for you, just remember that it’s so much more difficult for pets that have such a great sense of smell! If you are going to sneak your dog or cat some Thanksgiving food, just make sure you avoid the following items:
1. CHOCOLATE DESSERTS
This one should go without saying, but it definitely bears repeating. Chocolate in all forms is toxic to cats and dogs alike, and the darker it is the worse it is. Cats are, generally, not all that attracted to chocolate, but most dogs will eat anything and everything if given the chance. Beyond knowing that chocolate is toxic for your pets, we would just like to emphasize that human error is a factor here. We know nobody knowingly feeds their pets chocolate. But chocolate that falls into an open trash can, or cake that sits out on the table, or an unclean plate after dinner are all fair game in your dog’s eyes. Keep a close eye on your chocolate-based foods and keep them out of the reach of your pets altogether!
2. TURKEY BONES
A bit of white turkey meat, not drenched in gravy or oil, can be an okay snack for dogs. On the other hand, giving them an entire turkey bone is a recipe for disaster. In order to get to the bone marrow beneath it all, most dogs will crunch and chew the bones. This can cause the bone to splinter, creating cuts that are difficult to see and even more difficult to fix in your dog’s mouth or intestinal tract. If you’re going to feed your dog turkey, go for fully-cooked and skinless white meat!
3. STUFFING
Although this might be your favorite part of the entire meat, the stuffing of the turkey is often full of onions, scallions, garlic, and other spices. This makes it delicious to humans, and extremely toxic to both cats and dogs. These specific ingredients can cause anemia in your pets. Whatever you do, don’t let your your pets anywhere near your turkey stuffing. Instead, shop at Wiscoy for Animals and get your Thanksgiving-themed pet supplies or pet foods – we have a handful of additives and pumpkin-flavored food supplements to help provide your pet with the Thanksgiving meal they desire.
4. MASHED POTATOES
Potatoes, by themselves are safe for your pets to eat. But when you mash them and add a typical amount of milk, butter, onion powder, cheese, garlic, and gravy…. Well, it’s impossible to say that’s healthy for humans and certainly isn’t for your pets either. These ingredients can cause diarrhea and vomiting for lactose-intolerant pets, and the same ingredients that are so prevalent and toxic in the stuffing are often found here in mashed potatoes as well.
5. HAM
Ham, along with many other pork products, are generally high in calories, very salty, and often treated with additional sugars. Ham specifically can cause pancreatitis in dogs. These foods are also not considered lean and even if your pet escapes the other issues, these foods are no good for your pet’s weight. A human-sized portion can be enough to cause an upset stomach and diarrhea and we recommend that if you are going to feed your dog any ham at all, make it a small portion and given rarely if ever.
CONCLUSION
It might be tempting to let your dogs off the leash or your cats out of the cage (metaphorically) this Thanksgiving. We are all for allowing them to join in on the celebration - responsibly! Avoid generous servings, and avoid the foods listed above, and everything will go smoothly. The alternative might be an emergency trip to the vet that would undoubtedly put a damper on your holiday season.
Wiscoy for Animals is your best source of pet supplies in State College, PA and we are happy to help you with these Thanksgiving pet safety tips as well. Come to us for a selection of healthy pet food, treats, supplements, and more for your furry friends. Order online today and use curbside pickup!