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You know the look. You’ve just sat down to a delicious meal, when a furry head pops up with sad, desperate eyes—hoping beyond hope for table scraps. Although it’s hard to resist the urge to make your dog happy, many human foods, especially those served at Thanksgiving Day dinner, are harmful to your pet’s digestive system. To keep them safe, stay vigilant while cooking and serving guests. Any of the following foods may make your furry friend sick. 

3 Foods Toxic to Dogs

1. Ham

It may seem harmless, but ham is often loaded with sodium and fat, which are dangerous to dogs in high quantities. Salt, especially, should be avoided. It leads to vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination, lethargy, and fluid retention. It’s also known to cause kidney damage, seizures, coma, and even death. 

Although fat isn’t as injurious as salt, some dogs are sensitive to foods that consist of over 20 percent fat. It may cause them to vomit and eventually lead to pancreatitis and other forms of inflammatory digestive disease. 

2. Stuffing

dogMany stuffings include onion and garlic. Although these aromatics are prized flavor enhancers for humans, they and other members of the allium family, such as chives, shallots, and leeks, contain sulfur compounds that are toxic to dogs. When ingested, these compounds damage hemoglobin—the substance that transports oxygen-carrying red blood cells to organs, muscles, and tissues. Anemia may lead to organ damage and failure. 

3. Chocolate Pie & Candy

Chocolate contains a bitter alkaloid—theobromine. Humans digest this caffeine-related chemical with no problem. When dogs eat chocolate, however, theobromine builds up in their system until it reaches toxic levels. Although you may think a small piece of chocolate will be inconsequential, even a tad can lead to stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea. 

 

Before feeding your dog anything outside of the ordinary this Thanksgiving, discuss it with the veterinarians at Oak Crest Animal Hospital. This full-service veterinary clinic provides medical, surgical, and dental care to pets throughout Greater Cincinnati, OH. They’re dedicated to offering preventative health care as well as providing advanced diagnostic and medical treatment during times of illness. To request an appointment, call them today at (513) 574-3647. You can also visit their website to learn more about their pet care services.

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