Oh Gosh…It’s Turkey Day!
Family and friends are gathering together. The little ones are eager to pass their veggies under the table to the pets waiting at their feet.
So…Here’s the question: Is everything on the Thanksgiving table dangerous for my pets?
The answer is…that could not be further from the truth!
The entire reason that there’s a giant list of “dangerous” foods on the internet is to make you, the pet owner, scared to feed REAL food your pet. Almost everything that we make for Thanksgiving is safe for our pets.
Feeding in moderation is where an issue can arise. Because really, what do humans do on Thanksgiving? We over eat… Like big time! And so we also overfill the plates for our pets.
So first.. let’s talk VOLUME.
Portions…this is the most difficult thing.
I find it harder to feed an appropriate portion for a small dog than a big dog or a small cat versus a big cat.
I have a five pound Maltese, an eighty pound German shepherd, and every size in between. (Yes, I have a herd. They are an awful lot of fun.)
So what portions do I feed my five pound Maltese? Only two tablespoons! That’s an eighth of a cup. My eighty pound German Shepherd? She gets a pound of food! That’s two cups or more. While my German Shepherd gets a human sized portion while my Maltese would die if given that much food! This is why you might see more little dogs in the hospital during the holidays.
Sadly… veterinarians will blame this on fat in the diet. That’s because when we vets run bloodwork, the bilirubin (gall bladder) and pancreatic numbers (amylase and lipase) are high. Fat in the diet is not the problem. Most of the time, it is the lack of portion control that creates pet related health issues.
So…what people food is a BIG NO for dogs and cats from the typical Thanksgiving table?
You know the list:
- Chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- LARGE amounts of RAW onions or garlic (emphasis intentional)
- Xylitol
- Cooked bones
That’s it.
So, if you’re cutting up onions and a tiny piece falls on the floor and your pup gets to it first – it’s fine. Dogs have to eat entire raw onions to get sick and let’s face it…our pampered house pets have no reason to do that.
What’s not on the DO NOT list?
- Salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, thyme, garlic powder (cuz it’s cooked), cinnamon, nutmeg
- Avocado (the meat is healthy, the shell and pit are the poisonous part – they don’t taste good -your pup won’t want this)
- Mushrooms. Come on now. If the mushrooms came from the store and they are safe for people, they are safe for pets. The bright colored ‘shrooms in the yard? Potentially dangerous for all.
- Alcohol. Yup. Common sense check. A lick won’t kill. A whole pińa colada will make the little ones sick.
- Dairy. Sigh. Depends on what your pet is used to. Do you normally share yogurt? Or do you never feed it? Depends on the pet. It’s not POISONOUS but might be difficult to digest for some.
Here’s the bottom line: you can share a bit of your holiday dinner with your pet (as long as there are no underlying health issues – if there are underlying health issues, then activate your parent skills and protect the four-leggers like you do the two-leggers)!
So…DON’T OVERFEED!
And…
If someone wants to warn you away from people food – ask them to prove it with a scientific article. Not just a reference to a list written by those who want to keep your pets eating crappy pet food!
Cuz
Cinnamon? Poisonous? Really? I need to see the peer-reviewed article that proves cinnamon as a seasoning itself is dangerous to pets. Haven’t found it.
Still seeing patients in Clearwater, Tampa, and virtually.