11/15/2025
As we approach the Thanksgiving Holiday please keep in mind the unsafe foods to avoid giving to your cats and dogs.
Toxic and Highly Dangerous Foods
These foods contain substances that are toxic to pets and can cause severe illness or death, even in small amounts.
-Onions, Garlic, Leeks, and Chives: All members of the Allium family (raw, cooked, or powdered) are toxic and can damage red blood cells, leading to anemia.
-Grapes and Raisins: Highly toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure, even in small amounts.
-Xylitol: This artificial sweetener, also known as birch sugar, is found in many "sugar-free" items (gum, candy, certain peanut butters, baked goods) and can cause a rapid, life-threatening drop in blood sugar and liver failure in dogs.
-Chocolate: Contains theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are the most dangerous.
-Alcohol: Found in beverages and raw yeast dough, alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, tremors, coma, and even death.
-Raw Yeast Dough: The warm environment of a pet's stomach causes the dough to rise, leading to painful bloating (which can become life-threatening Gastric Dilatation Volvulus) and alcohol poisoning from the fermenting yeast.
-Bones: Cooked turkey bones can easily splinter, posing a choking hazard or causing internal injury to the mouth or digestive tract, which may require surgery.
-Nutmeg: This common holiday spice can cause tremors or seizures if ingested in large quantities.
High-Fat and Rich Foods
These items can lead to severe gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting and diarrhea, or more serious conditions like pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
-Turkey Skin and Gravy: High in fats, butter, and seasonings.
-Stuffing and Casseroles: Often contain high fat content and toxic ingredients like onions, garlic, or raisins.
-Mashed Potatoes: Typically prepared with butter, milk, cream, or garlic.
-Ham: High sodium and fat content can lead to sodium ion poisoning or pancreatitis.
-Desserts and Pies: High in sugar and fat, and potentially toxic ingredients like chocolate or xylitol.
-Dairy Products: Many pets are lactose intolerant and dairy products can cause diarrhea or stomach upset.
Safety Tips
-Secure Trash Cans: Pets often try to get into the garbage, which contains dangerous items like bones, food wrappers, and aluminum foil.
-Keep Food Out of Reach: Be mindful of food left unattended on counters and tables.
-Communicate with Guests: Remind visitors not to feed table scraps to your pets.
-Prepare Pet-Safe Treats: Offer small amounts of plain, unseasoned cooked turkey (boneless, skinless), plain green beans, or plain pumpkin instead.
