What you put on the table this Thanksgiving is up to you (we recommend food, though). But the family dog will likely be paying homage to the Dave Matthews Band by remaining under the table and dreaming – of the treasure trove of delights that could fall his way at any second.
Before you start slipping Fido entire turkey legs, though, consider this: many of the foods we eat during the holiday season can be harmful to our furry friends (we mean animals, not Uncle Walter).
To get some important tips, we checked in with Larry Graham, a veterinarian in the emergency department at CAVES, and he gave us some pointers to make sure your four-legged friend spends the holidays with you and not him.
∎ Less is more.
Graham recommends keeping your dog on the same diet he’s always on; that is, one without table scraps. “Basically, it’s tempting to feed them something that is not their regular diet, but that can cause vomiting and diarrhea and all kinds of other problems,” Graham said.
∎ Less isn’t really more, though.
Of course you’re still going to give your dog a few bits, though. Just keep the portions in check and avoid certain foods that can have a particularly devastating effect. “You can give them a treat, but just a wee bit,” Graham said.
Grapes and chocolate are two absolute no-nos, as are macadamia nuts, all of which can cause serious health issues. “Some dogs, or even cats, will eat grapes, and it can cause kidney failure,” Graham said. “There’s usually a lot of chocolate around during this season, and that can be quite toxic, too. And macadamia nuts can cause GI symptoms and even pain and weakness.”
∎ Honey, can you take out the garbage?
That isn’t your spouse pleading with you to complete a chore, it’s Graham. One of the primary reasons for emergency vet visits is rummaging through the trash, where bones and other potential dangers lurk.
“What we see a lot is getting into the garbage where the leftovers or turkey carcasses and turkey bones get tossed,” Graham said. Those bones can cause major problems, as can the aforementioned chocolate, which is often discovered in the garbage.
∎ Your stomach would hurt if you ate this stuff, too.
One of the most common causes of GI upset is feeding fatty items like turkey skin or fat off a ham to your dog. Graham recommends avoiding such scenarios, and mentioned gravy as another no-no. What’s more, the skin in particular – which retains all the spices and other ingredients it was cooked in – can be dangerous. Onions and garlic can also be difficult to digest. “Another one we see is people feed them the turkey skin or fat off the ham, and that can cause GI upset and even pancreatitis.”
