It's the time of year when the biggest meal is served at our table, so here are some foods that are not dog-friendly to keep away from our pets.
During this wonderful season, guests and family members bring over their specialties to share with everyone, not just our friends and family members, but our dogs as well when safe. But just like the rest of the year, we must study which human foods our pups can and cannot eat.
Those puppy eyes bug us to feed our furry friends some of our table scraps, but are you sure it's safe for them to consume? There are always those obvious foods to keep away from dogs, like chocolate and grapes, but what foods should we keep our pups away from at Thanksgiving? Keep scrolling through to find out!
Thanksgiving Foods that are NOT Dog-Friendly
Every year, food-related pet illnesses are common during Thanksgiving day. Unfortunately, this happens because most of the food served on our table is unsafe for your dog to consume. What is tasty to us might be poison to them. So here is a list of common Thanksgiving foods that are not safe for dogs:
Uncooked Meat
Raw meat is obvious since uncooked meat contains salmonella and other bacteria that could be very poisonous to your furry friend. While we know that a sensible dog owner would never feed their dog raw meat, but amid Thanksgiving preparations, food like raw meat might be left out where a curious pup might be able to reach. Take extra care this year to keep raw meats far away from your pets.
Turkey Skin
Leave that tasty turkey skin on your plate because turkey skins are tough to digest for your dog. Worst case scenario is that your pet's pancreas can become inflamed, thus causing pancreatitis.
Turkey Bone
This might be a shock to many, especially if your pet loves bones, but turkey bones and other poultry bones are foods that are not dog-friendly, even in the slightest. Whether big or small, Turkey bones are brittle and can easily splinter when chewed, which presents a choking hazard and can be painful for your dog to digest.
Raw Bread Dough
While you’re busy making your fresh homemade rolls this year, it might be best to keep your pup in a separate room. You see, a dog's body heat can make the raw dough rise in its stomach, which can cause your dog to vomit and suffer from severe abdominal pain.
Cake Batter and Cookie Dough
The idea of feeding our dogs sweets is pretty frowned-upon, but here’s your reminder to never let them eat the raw product too. Batters for cakes and doughs used for cookies will almost always contain raw eggs, which can carry salmonella bacteria that is harmful to both humans and our doggy pals.
Beer and Other Alcoholic Beverages
This one seems obvious, but it’s a good reminder to keep these drinks out of a dog’s reach and always to mop up an accidental spill before a dog can get to it. Beer can really upset your dog's stomach due to barley and other grains used to make alcohol. Not only that, but if your dog has consumed a lot of alcohol, regardless of the type, it can cause fever, seizures, rapid heartbeat, or in the worst cases, death.
Mashed Potatoes
Potatoes alone are safe for your dogs to consume, but you need to watch out for the foods that are not dog-friendly and come about in a mashed potato dish. It's common for a dog to be lactose intolerant, so the milk and butter you're adding will give them may give them an upset tummy. Watch out for other flavorings like onion and garlic, as these too are bad for your dog's health.
Walnuts and Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts consumed by dogs can cause neurological symptoms, vomiting and lethargy. On the other hand, Walnuts can cause gastric problems and mycotoxins that can cause seizures and neurological symptoms. And because of their fatty content, too much of these nuts can cause pancreatitis. So even though these nuts probably taste delicious with your dinner or dessert, keep them to yourself!
Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic are a lethal combination. If your pet were to eat either of these, their red blood cells can be damaged resulting in not being able to carry oxygen. Consumption of these could also cause anemia, and in severe cases lead to internal organ damage, organ failure, or even death.
This means that anything that has onion or garlic in it, like sausage, turkey skin, potato dishes, and more, could be dangerous to your pet.
What to Do If You Suspect Your Dog Has Food Poisoning
If your dog eats any of these foods that are not dog friendly, it may experience food poisoning. If your dog has food poisoning, it would more than likely demonstrate one or more of these symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Panting and salivation
- Severe thirst
- Uncontrolled peeing
- Hyperactivity
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Cramping
- Heart palpitations
- Tremors
- Seizures
Suppose you notice any of the above symptoms or behaviors, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435), a 24-hour 365-day hotline, for more information. You should also find an animal hospital and take your dog straight there symptoms continue or worsen.
Plush Paws Products Wishes You a Safe and Happy Holiday Season
We strongly urge you to keep these foods that are not dog-friendly away from your furry friend, so that your pets are safe, healthy, and comfortable both at home and on the road. We know that when the holidays are here, you and your pup are likely hitting the road to visit friends and family, or you're staying home and inviting guests over. Either way, your pet deserves the best! So check out our extensive line of car accessories for dogs and our pet health products while you’re at it! We ship across the globe, so shop with us today!
Happy Thanksgiving from the Plush Paws Products family!