PAWS & REFLECT: Feeding pets love, not sickness, this Thanksgiving

Published 4:30 pm Wednesday, November 22, 2023

The holidays are upon us, and of course, we want to include our beloved pets in the celebration. Caution is advised when treating your pets anytime, but especially during the holidays. We tend to leave cookie platters, candy dishes and bowls of nuts on various surfaces, all of which can be accessed by a clever snack hound or sneaky cat.

So, what are the basics during the holidays to protect your pet from ingesting the wrong items? One of the deadliest items is actually alcoholic beverages. If you leave your beer or a creamy drink sitting on an end table, and Fido or Fluffy gets a taste, they can suffer immediate alcohol poisoning, including vomiting, difficulty breathing, coma and death.

Chocolate, coffee and caffeine contain methylxanthines. These compounds basically speed up all metabolic processes in pets, such as heart rate, breathing and activity, even to the point of hyperactivity, tremors and seizures.

Grapes, raisins and nuts are all extremely toxic to dogs, and mid to highly toxic to cats. Raisins can cause kidney failure, and nuts can cause multiple issues from vomiting and diarrhea to hypothermia and pancreatitis.

Xylitol is currently a popular artificial sweetener used in everything from toothpaste to candy and gum. Xylitol can spike blood sugar levels, leading to toxicosis, seizures and liver failure.

Vegetables, especially onions and garlic, are toxic to both cats and dogs. However, pumpkins (no spice), sweet potatoes, peas and green beans are all fine for your pooch, but not the cat. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning that meat is their true natural diet and the healthiest thing they can eat. So, it’s OK to share some turkey or giblets with your dog or cat (minus the gravy) but keep the starches away from felines.

Should your pet get into food it should not have eaten, you can call Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or take your pet to the nearest Veterinary Emergency Clinic.

Let’s keep our pets safe and enjoy a Happy Thanksgiving.