The holiday season is upon us and each year the big meals shared with family are a highlight of the season. From honey baked hams and turkey with gravy to stuffing, yams, and apple pie, the classics make a happy return to the dinner table in November and December and food comas are found in almost every house.
While family gatherings with amazing meals are great opportunities to unwind and indulge this holiday season for you, it’s important that no matter how much your dog wants to join, they don’t also get a heaping plate of the good stuff. The best way to ensure that your pup is safe this holiday season is to know what holiday foods to avoid, and which ones are safe in the event that you want to share a scrap or two out of holiday spirit. The more you know about what is safe for your dog to eat, the better equipped you can be to share a few small things this holiday season.
Plain potatoes or sweet potatoes
Mashed potatoes with gravy are a holiday table staple for families, and potatoes are some of the only people foods dogs can eat. The key is that these must be plain and there can be no skin or seasoning when fed to your dog. Since pups can’t have salt, pepper, garlic, milk, butter, and other ingredients that are typically added into mashed potatoes, a small scoop before adding any flavors in is okay. The same rule applies to sweet potatoes – keep them plain and avoid the skin for the safest treat for your dog.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a tasty, healthy treat for dogs and many love the flavor. When feeding your dog canned pumpkin, it’s important that you read the label carefully to ensure that the only ingredient is pumpkin and there are no hidden flavors like pumpkin pie mix, sugar, and spices.
Carrots
Plain carrots are a healthy and tasty treat that many dogs love. While it may be easier to give your pup a fresh raw carrot, you can also try given them a cooked carrot as long as there is no seasoning.
White meat
Many people wonder if dogs can eat turkey at Thanksgiving and the answer is yes, they can, as long as it has not been prepared with any seasoning. It’s also important to avoid bones and skip feeding the skin since the outer layer of poultry is likely to have been prepared with butter, spices, or other fatty ingredients. If you cook a chicken instead, the same rules apply.
While all of these foods are technically safe for your pup to eat, it’s important that you don’t overdo it and always err on the side of less is more. Giving a few small safe and healthy snacks (void of seasoning) to your pup while you’re cooking and/or eating your holiday meal can be a treat for you both, but a stomachache is never fun.
Holiday safety tips
Looking for a great resource this year to help keep your pet healthy and safe this winter? Check out the AVMA’s winter holiday pet safety guide that covers everything from food and decorations to hosting parties and visitors and tips for handling holiday travel.
If you have any questions or need any help from us here at the Bregman Veterinary Group , give us a call at (863)588-4200 or to schedule an appointment for your pup, click here to get started. We hope you have a happy and safe holiday season!
