Holiday Foods That Are Dangerous for Your Pets

The holidays are a time of joy, celebration, and plenty of delicious food. However, many traditional holiday dishes can be dangerous for pets. It’s important to know which holiday foods are safe and which are not.

Holiday Foods You Should Never Give Your Pet

Below are holiday foods you should never feed your pet.

Chocolate

Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine in levels that are toxic to cats and dogs. The darker and less sweetened the chocolate, the more concentrated these toxic ingredients are. In high doses, chocolate can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, high heart rate, seizures, and even death.

 Xylitol

 Xylitol is a sugar substitute used in many products. It’s found in baked goods, certain peanut butters, mints, mouthwashes, nasal sprays, chewable vitamins, etc. If ingested, it can result in a massive insulin spike, causing a life-threatening hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Liver failure with higher doses.

Grapes & Raisins

Grapes and raisins are toxic for dogs and can lead to acute kidney failure. While cats are less inclined to eat grapes, they can still be harmful for them as well.

Coffee

The caffeine in coffee contains Methylxanthines. This can cause potentially fatal diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, and irregular heartbeats.

Alcohol

Dogs can be poisoned by ingesting alcoholic drinks. Accidental ingestion can cause severe coma, slowed respiration, and a life-threateningly low blood sugar.

Onions & Garlic

Onions and garlic contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia in cats and dogs. Many prepared foods, including baby food, contain onion and garlic powders.

Raw Bread Dough

The raw dough can expand in your dog’s stomach, causing severe pain and even potentially life-threatening torsion or rupture of the stomach.

The yeast and sugar in raw dough can ferment, leading to alcohol toxicity. This can quickly become fatal and requires immediate medical intervention.

Nuts, Nutmeg & Cinnamon

Stay away from almonds, pecans, and walnuts. They contain high amounts of oils and fats. The fats can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and potentially pancreatitis in pets.

Nutmeg may cause hallucinations and severe vomiting. Cinnamon can irritate your dog’s mouth and sometimes lead to low blood sugar.

Chicken & Turkey Skin, Ham, & Meat Bones

These food items contain a high-fat content, which can cause acute pancreatitis, a life-threatening illness with severe complications. Meat bones can lodge in the stomach or intestines, potentially causing a perforation or rupture of the intestinal walls.

Holiday Food Safety Tips

Here are a few helpful tips to keep your pets safe.

Don’t Let Friends and Family Feed Your Pets

Let your guests know the house rules: no feeding the pets. Friends and family might not realize that some common foods can be toxic to animals. Kindly remind them to keep their plates and snacks out of your pets’ reach.

Take Out The Trash

To avoid your pet digesting any harmful foods, always take out the trash.

Make A Pet-Safe Holiday Meal

Plain white-meat turkey (skinless) and cooked vegetables like carrots or potatoes are simple, digestible options for your pet.  

We’re Here for You

While no one wants to face a pet emergency, it’s important to be prepared. Since we’re closed on major holidays, our after-hours recorded phone message and Facebook page will guide you to the emergency pet facilities we recommend. We’ll resume regular business hours the day after the holiday.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the team at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center for more information about holiday pet safety. Have a wonderful and safe holiday!