As the festive season approaches, veterinarians across the UK are issuing an urgent warning to pet owners: think twice before sharing your Thanksgiving-style feast with your furry companions. What seems like a loving gesture can have dangerous, even deadly, consequences for your dog or cat.
The Hidden Dangers on Your Holiday Plate
A recent 2023 survey revealed a startling statistic: more than half of dog owners reported their pet had eaten something it shouldn't have during the holiday celebrations. This directly leads to a significant surge in emergency visits to veterinary clinics on days like Thanksgiving.
Dr. Aya Alt, Medical Director of VCA Broadway Animal Hospital and Pet Center, explains the core of the problem. "The biggest dangers are foods that are either toxic to pets, such as onions and garlic, foods that can cause gastrointestinal upset because they are too rich, or foods that are very different from the pet's usual diet," she told People magazine. She also advises that if you are hosting a potluck-style dinner, you must ensure your guests know which ingredients are hazardous to animals.
Specific Foods to Keep Away from Pets
The list of forbidden foods is extensive and includes many holiday staples. Key items to vigilantly keep away from your pets include:
- Alcohol: Even small amounts can cause toxicity, especially in cats.
- Onions and Garlic: These contain a compound called N-propyl disulfide, which damages red blood cells and can lead to severe organ failure or death.
- Chocolate: This treat contains caffeine and theobromine, stimulants that are toxic to dogs. Darker chocolate poses a higher risk and can cause tremors, seizures, and coma.
- Grapes and Raisins: These can cause gastrointestinal distress and sudden kidney failure, with tartaric acid identified as a potential cause.
- Cooked Bones: These can easily splinter, causing choking, tearing of the oesophagus, or internal injuries that lead to serious infection.
- Milk and Dairy: Many pets are lactose intolerant, leading to digestive upset.
- Raw Meat and Fish: These carry the risk of foodborne illnesses for both pets and humans.
- Pumpkin Pie: The condensed milk, spices, and sweeteners make it unsafe, though plain, pure pumpkin is actually beneficial for dogs.
The Serious Consequences of Indulgence
VCA Animals Hospitals warns that in most cases, consumption of these foods results in gastroenteritis. Symptoms can include irritation of the mouth, drooling, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea. However, the risks can be far more severe.
Cooked bones are a particular hazard. As explained by Georgia’s Chestview Animals Hospital & Emergency, both raw and cooked bones can splinter in your dog's mouth and digestive tract, causing significant injury and potentially death.
The message from experts is clear: while those pleading puppy-dog eyes are hard to resist, your pet's health depends on your restraint. This holiday season, show your love by keeping the festive human food for the humans and sticking to a pet-appropriate diet to ensure a happy and healthy celebration for all members of the family.
