Holiday Foods You Shouldn’t Feed Pets

The holiday season is all about giving, and while it’s tempting to give your furry family member some tasty samples from the holiday spread, it’s important to know that some of our festive favorites are toxic foods for pets.

To keep your cat holidays and dog holidays merry and bright, our team at Bayside Animal Hospital has put together some holiday pet safety tips to help protect your pets from dangers on the dinner table.

The Naughty List

For the most part, foods that are identified as dog toxic foods are typically cat toxic foods too. To play it safe, don’t share samples of the following toxic foods for pets with your cats or dogs: 

Chocolate: One of the most notorious toxic foods for pets, chocolate tops the naughty list. And the darker the chocolate, the more poisonous it is for pets. 

Bulb veggies: Flavorful foods like onions, garlic, leeks, and shallots that add punch to our potatoes, dressing, and gravy can cause hemolytic anemia in pets.

Fatty foods: Skin from turkey or chicken, ham, and anything dripping with butter are just a few examples of high-fat foods that can lead to pancreatitis in pets.

Yeast: The same ingredient that makes bread and dinner rolls rise will expand in your dog’s tummy. Ingesting uncooked dough, causing dangerous bloat and toxic levels of ethanol in his bloodstream.

Sweet treats: Pies, cookies, and holiday puddings are tasty indulgences for people but can cause digestive distress in pets.

Nuts and dried fruits: Never share fruitcake, figgy pudding, or any treats containing raisins, nuts (especially macadamia nuts), or figs with pets.

Grapes: Highly toxic for dogs, this holiday fruit tray staple can cause acute kidney problems for pets.

Bones: Turkey and other bones are no-nos. They are choking hazards and can splinter and injure pets when swallowed. 

Alcohol: When toasting to the holidays, keep all alcoholic beverages out of reach of pets. Alcohol causes severe illness in pets, including dizziness and vomiting.

Xylitol – Very Naughty List

Xylitol is on the very naughty list because it is incredibly common and highly toxic to dogs. Ingesting even a small amount can be fatal, rapidly causing dangerous blood sugar drops and potentially leading to liver failure. Symptoms like vomiting, weakness, and seizures can appear in as little as 10-60 minutes, requiring immediate veterinary attention. 

Manufacturers often complicate safety by using alternative names for Xylitol on packaging. You must be vigilant and look out for these misleading aliases, as they all represent a serious toxin for your dog:

• Birch sugar
• Birch bark extract
• Birch sap
• Sugar alcohol

The Nice List

Your pets can safely join in on the holiday feast with small portions of these festive favorites minus any gravy or seasonings:

• Small pieces of white meat turkey
• Little bites of ham without glaze (with as little fat as possible)
• Steamed veggies, including carrots, peas, green beans, unseasoned cooked sweet potatoes
• Pumpkin puree
• Fresh fruits like apples, cranberries, or blueberries

At Bayside Animal Hospital, we’re committed to helping you keep your pets safe and healthy all year long. Contact us if it’s time for your pet’s wellness and preventive care