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Thanksgiving is just around the corner. While gathering with family and friends, you’re likely to have a few furry friends around as well. Though it may be tempting to share the feast with pets, veterinarians warn that many holiday foods are unhealthy for dogs and cats to consume. Learn which foods you should never feed pets in the guide below.

7 Holiday Foods That Can Harm Your Pet

1. Stuffing

This holiday favorite typically contains onions, garlic, shallots, or other vegetables in the allium family, which are toxic to dogs and cats. Consumption of these vegetables can cause serious anemia, which is why veterinarians advise you to never feed them in any form, whether powdered, dry, raw, or cooked, to your pets.

2. Turkey Bones

thanksgiving-food-not-good-for-petWhile some bones are okay to give your pets, smaller turkey bones can cause severe indigestion, vomiting, and may even puncture stomach or intestinal walls. Undetected damage to the stomach or intestinal lining can lead to infection.

3. Ham

Your pup may love ham, but pork is not a good addition to a dog’s diet. High in fat, ham may upset their stomach and lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and even pancreatitis.

4. Sweet Potatoes, Yams, & Mashed Potatoes

Plain sweet potatoes, yams, or potatoes are fine for pets to eat, but typical Thanksgiving preparations usually contain sugar, marshmallows, spices, onions, or garlic. Refined sugar and many spices cause indigestion in pets as well as add unhelpful calories to their diet.

5. Desserts

Sugar is detrimental to pets’ teeth and contributes to obesity. Dairy products such as whipped cream may cause vomiting and diarrhea. Chocolate is especially toxic for cats and dogs, with symptoms like respiratory issues, increased heart rate, and seizures. Chocolate poisoning can even be fatal for them, so it often necessitates a trip to the veterinarian.

6. Raisins & Grapes

Many salads and desserts contain grapes and raisins, so don’t let them drop to the floor where your dog can get to them. Although the reason is unknown, grapes can cause irreversible and sometimes fatal kidney failure in dogs.

7. Nuts

Pecan pie, nuts in salad, or a salty snack mix can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis in both cats and dogs. The excess salt in sodium-rich treats can also lead to excessive thirst or urination, so keep snack foods out of your pet’s reach. Eating macadamia nuts is especially bad, with symptoms like weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.

 

If your pet ingests detrimental foods or isn’t feeling well during the holidays, bring them to Waipahu Waikele Pet Hospital. Their veterinarians and staff have served Waipahu and the surrounding area since 1972. They offer after-hours emergency service, boarding, dentistry, surgery, as well as general care. For your convenience, their full-service veterinary practice has an onsite pharmacy, health supplies, food, toys, and grooming supplies. Call (808) 671-7387 to make an appointment, or visit their website for a full list of services.

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