Pet Nutrition During the Holidays: A Guide to Safe Food Consumption
The holiday season is a time for joy, festivities, and indulging in delicious meals, but what about your furry family members? As a pet owner, it is crucial during this time of year that you are mindful of the scraps and treats your pet consumes. Many popular holiday foods can be surprisingly harmful, and even toxic, to companion pets, making your knowledge on the topic paramount to a safe holiday season. During this year’s festivities, prioritize your pet’s nutrition and health with the information our Sinton Vet Clinic provides here.
Feel confident this season by discussing a plan of action with our dedicated Sinton Vet Clinic team. We have more than enough experience to offer excellent tips and tricks to any family unit, so give us a call! Dial (361) 364-4551 or send us an email today to feel confident about the holiday seasons tomorrow.
The Risks of Holiday Food for Pets
The traditional holiday festivities are filled with tempting treats, scrumptious meals, and holiday snacks. Often, we want to share this joy with our animal companions, but not all your favorite foods are safe for your pet to eat. Some of the most common holiday foods that pose a risk to your the health of your dog or cat are:
- Chocolate: As one of the most well-known toxins for pets, chocolate contains two chemicals that have adverse effects on your companion: theobromine and caffeine. Theobromine cannot be properly digested in pets, causing a buildup of the chemical and subsequent chocolate toxicity. Caffeine can alter an animal’s heart rate, putting them at a higher risk for heart-related problems. Dark chocolate and cocoa powder are especially dangerous as these chemicals are especially present. An animal ingesting chocolate can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, seizures, and even death.
- Cooked Bones: While poultry meat on its own is safe for your pet to consume in moderation, the cooked bones are not. When these fowl bones are cooked, they become very brittle, increasing the risk of the bones splintering or breaking on the way down the digestive tract. These bones are sharp enough to cut and slice any part of the digestive tract, whether it be throat, stomach, or intestines. Avoid this concern altogether and opt for vet-approved bones and rawhides.
- Onions and Garlic: These vegetables are part of the allium genus, which includes chives and leeks as well. While they are often ingredients to fan-favorite meals, allium vegetables can be toxic to pets, especially garlic. Allium veggies contain a chemical (N-propyl disulfide) that will attack and break down a dog or cat’s red blood cells. If your pet consumes these veggies, they can suffer from anemia, physical discomfort, and gastrointestinal distress. Avoid the stress of a visit to the E.R. by avoiding onions and garlic in your companion’s diet.
- Grapes and Raisins: While grapes and raisins are a wonderful addition to any meal, whether it be as a side or in a fruit cake, this does not lend true to our furry family members. Grapes and their products consist of tartaric acid and potassium bitartrate, both of which are toxic to dogs and cats. Consuming these chemicals can lead to kidney failure in dogs and cats, so do not give your pet any grapes or grape products.
- Alcohol: It may seem obvious, but alcoholic beverages can be extremely harmful to pets and should be avoided at all costs. Domesticated animals especially are not able to properly digest and process alcohol and attempts to do so can have serious consequences. The best way to treat alcohol poisoning in pets is to eliminate the alcohol and reduce the physical effects. Often, a drunk pet will be forced to throw up as much of the alcohol as possible and may need emergency care to prevent serious injury and death. Check for symptoms of alcohol consumption like vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and even respiratory failure.
- Nuts: While your dog may love licking peanut butter off the roof of their mouth, it is important that you note the harm that can come from your pet eating too many nuts. Some nuts are acceptable for dogs to eat in small amounts, like peanuts and cashews, but cats are a different story. Cats do not have the digestive tract to handle the fats and oils that nuts contain and should not be given any amount of any nuts. If your pet over consumes nuts, they can suffer from not only digestive discomfort, but pancreatitis as well.
- Xylitol: As a common substitute for sugar in sugar-free products, xylitol is easily found in many common food products such as gum, baked goods, some peanut butters, chewable vitamins, and more. Overconsumption of this chemical leads to a rapid release of insulin, often resulting in hypoglycemia, seizures, and liver failure. Speak to your vet about how much is safe for your pet and check the labels of the foods you split with your pup or kitty.
By avoiding these high-risk foods this holiday season, you are saving yourself time, money and stress while keeping your furry buddy in good health. If you think your pet has consumed any of these aforementioned holiday treats, seek medical help immediately. Do not hesitate to reach out today to avoid serious problems tomorrow.
Holiday Season Pet Nutrition
Prioritizing Pet Nutrition
Now that we have discussed the risks associated with feeding your animal common holiday treats, it is essential that you take the necessary steps to maintain your pet’s nutrition during the holidays. To ensure safe food consumption and pet nutrition, here are some tips:
- Stick to Their Regular Diet – By maintaining your pet’s regular diet, you are sure to avoid many of the aforementioned unsafe foods. This method is often the easiest and safest way to avoid serious harm from any holiday treats. Stick to their regular treats or opt for pet-safe treats and foods that are specifically crafted for them.
- Watch Portion Sizes – If you do decide to share some of the festive food, share a small amount of the food and ensure that it is pet safe. Turkey, ham, green beans, and cranberries are all acceptable in small portions. Table scraps should not compose the entirety of your furry buddy’s meal, but rather treated as a topper or treat.
- Educate Your Guests – Whether you’re hosting your new in-laws or your cousins have little kids, it is important to inform your guests about what foods are and are not acceptable for your canine or feline companion. Ensure your guests have alternatives to give your pet so they will not resort to unacceptable food.
- Pet-Proof Your Trash – Sometimes you will do everything you can to give your pet good nutrition, they may fall into temptation and get into the trash. Especially if you are throwing food scraps away, your trash needs to be properly tied off and away from your little hellian’s reach. It is crucial to your pet’s health that they do not get into the trash, as the food scraps they smell may be laying in something potentially dangerous.
- Offer Safe Treats – Like we mentioned, it can be a great preventative measure to have pet-safe treats at the ready. There are a variety of homemade treat recipes out there that are more than safe and are actually beneficial to your pet. Pet-friendly ingredients like pumpkin, sweet potato, or plain turkey meat are great festive foods that your animal will love.
- Maintain Their Routine – Just like us, our pets love routine and sticking to their own. No matter what the festivities bring, it is important to stick to your furry family member’s regular feeding schedule and exercise routine. This familiarity may help to minimize any disruption to their digestive tract, including constipation, intestinal discomfort, and abdominal pain.
By incorporating these tips into your holiday routine, your pet is certain to stay safe, healthy, and happy this season. If you are looking for tips specifically for your situation, give our clinic a call. We want the holidays to be a joyous time for you and your loved ones, so let us know if there is anything we can do for you and yours!
A Safe Holiday Season
As the holiday season approaches, it’s imperative to prioritize your pets’ nutrition and safety. While the festivities may tempt you to share your holiday feast with your furry friends, it’s vital to be aware of potential hazards in certain foods. Taking precautions, educating your guests, and providing pet-safe treats are easy and essential steps that ensure a joyful and secure holiday season for your pets.
If you are looking for specific advice and expertise this holiday season, do not hesitate to give our pet-loving team a call. We have gladly served the Sinton, TX area for years and we would love to include you in our family this holiday season. Let us know what we can do for you this holiday season by calling (361) 364-4551 or sending an email via our contact form. Happy holidays and stay safe!
