The holidays present an opportunity to show your appreciation for the ones you love, including furry friends. But that doesn’t mean giving them unlimited table scraps. Some human foods aren’t fit for animals, and their consumption can require an emergency trip to the veterinary clinic. Learn more about holiday foods for your pets in the following guide.

Beneficial Food

Plain sweet potatoes are popular treats, providing a generous amount of fiber, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. But avoid giving dishes that contain additional ingredients to ensure your pet doesn’t have a reaction.

Pets can also enjoy turkey meat, which contains proteins that help build muscle. Just pick out the bones to prevent choking and remove the skin, as it includes too much fat in addition to harmful seasonings.

Harmful Food

While ham is a common holiday dish, it can result in a trip to the veterinary clinic for your pet. Its high concentration of fat tends to trigger upset stomachs and vomiting shortly after consumption. Giving other meats, such as chicken or turkey, is a much better alternative.

Also, watch out for mashed potatoes. Even though potatoes are harmless, the dish contains large quantities of butter and milk, which cause diarrhea in lactose intolerant pets. Plus, the onion powder and garlic that many recipes call for are toxic for animals, resulting in anemia and gastrointestinal upset. 

Ensure your pet maintains optimal health this holiday season by working with Kokua Pet Clinic in Honolulu, HI. Their licensed veterinarians have more than 40 years of experience. In providing the most up-to-date treatments and procedures, the veterinary clinic maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau®. For a full list of services, visit their website, or call (808) 843-8382 to schedule an appointment.