Thanksgiving Feast: Good or Bad for Our Pets?

Thanksgiving Feast: Good or Bad for our Pets?

It’s almost Thanksgiving which means turkey, pies, and lots of tasty food! It may be tempting to share holiday meals with our pets, but many foods cause gastrointestinal distress and some are toxic to our furry friends. Let’s learn which foods pets may be able to share a bite of and which we should avoid.

Pumpkin is a safe and natural source of fiber for both cats and dogs.  If you want to feed your pet some pumpkin, make sure it is plain canned pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie filling which contains sugar and spices that could make pets sick. Also, be aware that accidental ingestion of whole nutmeg can cause vomiting, abdominal pain and seizures. Allspice and cloves-especially clove oil-can cause liver toxicity in cats and may cause vomiting, staggering and tremors and cinnamon may be irritating to the mouth and skin in large amounts.

Stuffing, gravy, and other foods that may contain onions, garlic and other plants in the Allium family such as chives or leeks can cause a type of anemia in dogs and cats called Heinz body anemia.  Cats and Japanese breeds of dog such as the Shiba Inu are more sensitive to the effects, and large amounts or chronic exposure are more likely to cause illness—about 1-2 ounces of onion or garlic may be toxic to a 15 pound pet.  Affected pets may have pale gums and seem weak or lethargic.

Raw yeast dough can cause bloat and alcohol poisoning in dogs or cats who ingest the dough.  The yeast is the culprit.  The warm, moist environment of the stomach activates the yeast in the dough, causing carbon dioxide to form.  This can lead to bloat. Fermenting yeast also produce alcohol which can be rapidly absorbed into the blood stream causing lethargy, respiratory distress or even seizures.  Affected pets may exhibit signs of retching or vomiting, distended stomach, and collapse.  Pets can die from these symptoms, so, if you are making bread or rolls with yeast make sure pets do not have access to the unbaked dough. 

               Turkey isn’t toxic, but the fatty skin and seasonings could lead to stomach upset, diarrhea and maybe worse with illnesses like pancreatitis.  Intestinal obstruction could also occur if your dog or cat decides to forage through the trash finding non-edible items like aluminum foil or plastic wrap that may have tasty food remnants attached. Keep trash out of reach and make sure pets do not have access to turkey bones. Stick with a small bite of plain turkey meat if you are inclined to share.

               Cranberries are generally safe for cats and dogs, but, feed in moderation. Dogs and cats could experience stomach upset if they eat too many cranberries and dried cranberries, sauces and cranberry juice have a lot of sugar, so feed sparingly.  Fresh cranberries can also be a great occasional snack for small pets such as birds, bearded dragons, hamsters and guinea pigs.

               It’s ok to share a  bit of turkey or a cranberry or two with your fur babies, but don’t give your pet a whole plate of rich Thanksgiving foods or you could end up in our office or at the ER instead of shopping and enjoying time with family and friends.  Patton Veterinary Hospital wishes you a safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving!  

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities