Every dog on the planet knows how to make the, “Please feed me!” face synonymous with begging. As much as you may like to indulge your adorable canine, especially during the holiday season when festive foods abound, there’s a long list of dishes you should never feed your dog. Familiarize yourself with holiday foods that will harm your four-legged friend to prevent emergency vet visits.

Stay Out Of The Vet’s Office This Holiday: 5 Festive Foods You Never Feed Your Dog

1. Turkey

By itself, turkey is not detrimental to dogs. However, the meat is often cooked with members of the allium family. Onion, chives, garlic, and other alliums are toxic to canines, as is sage, another common turkey basting ingredient. Consuming alliums and sage in significant amounts causes toxic anemia in dogs and can affect their nervous systems among other health complications.

2. Stuffing

Whether it’s homemade or from a box, the onions and other alliums in stuffing make it another canine no-no. Stuffing also frequently contains mushrooms which are also toxic to dogs.

3. Chocolate

The theobromine and caffeine compounds in cocoa function as canine poison. These stimulants are challenging for dogs to metabolize, causing the compounds to remain in their bodies longer and create symptoms such as pacing, panting, diarrhea, shaking, extreme thirst, and seizures.

4. Animal Bones

Cooked turkey, ham, and chicken bones can splinter inside your dog’s digestive tract or even puncture organs such as the stomach and intestines. They can also cause serious vomiting.

5. Mashed Potatoes

Since dairy sensitivities are common among household pets, consuming mashed potatoes loaded with milk, butter, and sour cream easily results in upset doggy tummies. What makes mashed potatoes even worse for dogs is when they are cooked with onions or garlic, or smothered with gravy made with alliums and mushrooms.

The vets at Florence Veterinary Hospital provide pet owners throughout Boone County, KY, with the comprehensive care they need to keep their animal friends healthy. Whether your beloved pet consumed something it shouldn’t have, you require spay and neuter services, or need to book a general wellness visit, you can relax knowing your pet is in capable hands. Mobile vet services are also available for your convenience. Call (859) 371-6501 today to schedule an appointment or visit the vets online for more service information. Keep up with the latest pet hospital news on Facebook.