GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The holidays are officially here! You may want to include your furry friends in your celebrations by feeding them table scraps, but there are some things you should keep in mind before you do.
Jen Nuernberg, marketing director with Harbor Humane Society, said the key to treating your pets to holiday food is moderation.
"Emergency vet can get very expensive around the holidays, so just really good to be aware of, kind of, you know, even with humans, everything in moderation is better. So overindulgence for animals goes the same," she said.
While your pet may love any table scraps you give them, you should keep in mind what is in your holiday foods. Nuernberg said that although cooked potatoes are safe for cats and dogs, mashed potatoes are often full of butter and dairy that can cause issues later.
In addition, you should avoid giving your pets bones from the table. Cooked bones are unsafe for both dogs and cats. There are frozen bones that can be found at pet stores that make better options for your pets, Nuernberg said. You can even add yogurt or peanut butter to make for a better treat.
Cats can have these Thanksgiving foods:
- Unseasoned, cooked turkey
- Unseasoned, cooked ham
- Cranberries
- Cooked, plain potatoes
- Green beans
- Cooked corn
- Cooked or canned pumpkin
And these Thanksgiving foods are safe for dogs:
- Unseasoned, cooked turkey
- Cranberries
- Plain sweet potatoes
- Green beans
- Cooked or canned pumpkin
- Cooked corn
- Apples (no core or seeds)
Both dogs and cats should not have things like garlic, onion, spices, stuffing, grapes, raisins or dairy.
If you're wondering if a certain food is safe for your pet, Nuernberg said a quick Google search can help clear up any confusion.
The holidays can pose other threats to your pets. Make sure to supervise your pets if they play with ribbon or wrapping paper—or if your cat decides to climb the Christmas tree. In addition, many holiday plants like poinsettias, lilies and mistletoe are toxic to pets.
"You know your pets and what's going to work and not, and that you're supervising when you can to keep everyone safe and again, away from, you know, trips to the veterinarian over the holidays," Nuernberg said.
