Fall Foods that are Safe for Fur Babies

Fall Food that are Safe for Fur Babies

               It’s finally fall! Autumn brings to mind apple harvests, pumpkins and Halloween candy.  We all like to share with our pets, so which fall foods can our pets partake of?

               Apples—apples are safe, healthy treats for most pets and many enjoy the crunch of a slice of apple.  Don’t feed too much though as apples could cause stomach upset for some pets.  Also, don’t feed apple cores to pets. The seeds contain small amounts of cyanide and can potentially be toxic when crushed though admittedly you or your pet would have to eat an awful lot of apple seeds to be deadly.

               Pumpkin/squash—pumpkin and other types of squash are safe for dogs and cats. In fact, the fiber in pumpkin can be beneficial in keeping firm stool consistency and keeping pets regular.  Fresh, canned or frozen pumpkin or squash are all fine, just don’t use pie filling and don’t add pumpkin spice or other seasonings—pets should eat plain, unseasoned squash.

               Sweet potatoes—similar to pumpkin, sweet potatoes are also safe and healthy for pets.  Don’t feed raw sweet potatoes but roasted, boiled, mashed or baked area all fine as are dried natural sweet potato chips. Sweet potatoes also contain healthy fiber and are ok for pets with food allergies. As with pumpkin, don’t add sugar or spices, just feed the plain potato.

               Halloween candy—OK, everyone should know by now that chocolate is not safe for pets, so make sure the Halloween haul is kept well out of pets’ reach. Candy wrappers can also pose a potential risk for blocking the intestines if swallowed.  Sugar free candies and gum can contain the artificial sweetener called xylitol which is toxic to pets. And, even if it’s not chocolate, other types of candy and sweets are not good for our pets so avoid feeding any sugary foods to dogs and cats. There are carob treats out there which are safe for dogs but limit quantities to prevent pets from gaining too much weight.

               If you want to share some pumpkin or a bite of apple with your pet this fall, feel free! Just keep the chocolate out of reach and say no to pumpkin spice for your pet!  Here’s a happy, healthy fall!

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