(Thanks) For Not (Giving) These Holiday Foods To Your Pet

Let’s talk turkey: With Halloween now over, a lot of people push straight forward into the Christmas spirit; but that day of the year is (crust) around the corner where we get to overindulge ourselves with an abundance of food, get all dressed up to go nowhere but the living room, create cherished memories with our loved ones, and get a small break from the daily grind. I personally don’t allow myself to get into the Christmas spirit until after my belly is full of all these goods, because let’s be honest – if you can button your pants after feasting onThanksgiving; you’re doing it wrong, so Thanksgiving is truly a highly-anticipated event for us all before the frenzy of the winter holidays begin.

While it is a wonderful time of coming together with friends and family, it can also be a time when some of us can’t resist slipping our four-legged friends a little bit of our Thanksgiving feast under the table or allowing them a bit of our leftovers in their dinner bowl. Thankful-ly, there are a number of classic Thanksgiving treats that are safe and healthy for our favorite canine companions, but there are also some holiday foods that are hazardous for our pets and we want to make sure we keep them high up on our dinner tables and not under it! Here are some tips and tricks for you and your guests so we can all kick (bake) and enjoy this holiday with our furry friends.

FEED: 

• Turkey (As long as it’s fully-cooked, boneless, and all excess fat and skin are removed. White meat is best)
• Ham
• Pork
• Salmon
• Bread (In moderation, with no spices and no raisins)
• Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes (Also in moderation, as well as any other starches)
• Peas
• Cranberries
• Green Beans
• Asparagus
• Broccoli Florets
• Brussels Sprouts
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Cheese (As long as your dog is not lactose intolerance. Opt for low fat varieties like cottage cheese or mozzarella)
• Corn (Without the cob, folks!)
• Eggs
• Milk
• Peanut Butter
• Wheat & Grains

*Please remember to always clarify with your veterinarian that your pet does not have any food allergies with the following recommendations*

DON’T FEED:

• Yeast Dough
• Onions
• Leeks
• Chives
• Garlic
• Caffeine
• Coffee
• Alcohol
• Chocolate
• Xylitol (Artificial Sweetener found in many baked goods) 
• Almonds
• Cinnamon
• Ice Cream
• Macadamia Nuts
• Grapes 
• Raisins
• Citrus Fruits
• Household Hazards AVMA

(For household items, please reference this link above)

Our safe suggestions for your pet to feel like they too get to experience a feast fit for a king or queen, is to offer them made-for-pets chew bones, or stuff their usual dinner – perhaps with a few added mouth-watering tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy inside a food puzzle toy! They will be happily occupied for awhile as they work to retrieve their mini feast from their toy, while you and your loved ones enjoy your special meal around the table. A few small boneless pieces of fully-cooked turkey and a taste of masted potato should not pose a problem, but be sure to be aware and inform your well-intentioned guests to not allow your four-legged loved ones to overindulge as they could wind up with an upset holiday stomach. 

From all of us at Groomington Coat Factory, we wish you all a safe and successfully stuffed Thanksgiving celebration later this month! We know how much you love and cherish all your pets. They are after-all the apple pie of our eye.

Written and researched by: Jennifer Sukalo