A HEALTHY
PERSPECTIVE
Holiday leftovers
for pets?
November/December 2017 GASPARILLA ISLAND 59
1. Avoid items that you know will upset your
pet's stomach. Not every pet's gastrointestinal
system is capable of taking on all foods and
digesting or absorbing them
properly.
2. Don't overwhelm your
pet with a bunch of new
things all at once. If your
pet isn't already used to
eating a variety of foods,
anything that digresses from its
current diet may prove disastrous. Small, lowfat,
non-spicy portions of food are the key.
3. Nothing with onions or other alliums (i.e.,
garlic, leeks, scallions). Though small, wellcooked
portions of this plant group can be
okay when pets are accustomed to them,
larger quantities can lead to toxic anemia –
especially in dogs. Also, be careful with turkey
stuffing. Many stuffing recipes
include onions.
4. No chocolate. Everyone
knows that chocolate
causes abnormally high
heart rhythms in dogs,
among other problems. But
not everyone is aware that the kind of
chocolate we bake with over the holidays is
especially toxic. While an M&M or two may not
hurt, a dog that snatches a large chunk of
baking chocolate from the
counter may end up in the
ER. Be careful to keep
ingredients out of reach
when baking.
5. No grapes or raisins.
These fruits have been
found to cause kidney failure in
Provided by Petmd.com
dogs, and studies have shown that these products tend
to cause problems when given in large quantities over
a period of time, so there's no need to risk it.
6. No xylitol. Most people don't cook with this sugar
substitute, but diabetics often do. Anything with xylitol
in it is toxic and absolutely deadly to dogs. Do not keep
it in your house (or if you must, keep it safe and secure
away from your animal). Sugar-free cupcakes, gums, and
mints may also contain this product, so be careful all
year round.
7. No macadamia nuts. As delicious as they are, we
recommend you not offer them to your pet(s). That
means that caramelized macadamia nut tart is off limits
for fido or little kitty.
8. No alcohol. This is obvious. Though not toxic in the
amounts most humans tend to imbibe,
pets are even more susceptible to
its effects due to their relatively
small size.
The "OK" List:
1. Turkey. Any excess fat and skin should be
removed from the leftover turkey. In addition, make
sure the turkey does not have any bones, as they tend
to splinter.
2. Mashed Potatoes. Be careful if you have added
any extra ingredients to the mash (e.g., cheese, sour
cream, onions, or gravy).
3. Cranberry Sauce. This holiday favorite is safe
for most pets, but it can also be too high in sugar.
4. Macaroni and cheese. Though it might not
taste as good, it might be better to feed your pet just
the macaroni. Your pet will love the plain pasta all the
same.
5. Green Beans. Again, not harmful alone, but be
careful when mixing it with other ingredients.