Keep your pet safe and healthy during the holidays

Although veterinarians don’t recommend feeding people food to pets, there are times when you’ll be tempted to give your dog something from your own plate. This time of year, it’s especially important to know the facts about table scraps. For example, most of the food we eat is too fatty for your dog’s digestive system, causing an upset stomach and even inflammation of the pancreas.

What else you need to know:

• Chicken and turkey bones may seem like the perfect leftover for your dog to gnaw on, but they splinter easily and could puncture the stomach or intestines if swallowed.
• Dogs like chocolate just as much as you do, but it can actually be toxic for your pet. Keep candy bowls out of reach and make sure your guests know not to feed your dog any sweets.
• Onions and garlic are key ingredients for many holiday dishes, but are dangerous for dogs. Feeding onions or garlic can cause life-threatening anemia, so keep them out of your dog’s bowl.¹

Avoid begging behavior

There’s no question: dogs love the smell and taste of people food. Most will happily wait beside the table for any treats that come their way. But how do you stop the bad behavior of begging?

• Keep your dog away from the table at meal times by confining him to another room using a baby gate
• If your dog is crate trained, put him in his crate before you sit down to eat
• Allow your dog to stay in the room, but away from the table, by using a leash to keep him in his own space and giving him a soft mat or blanket to rest on
• In all of these situations, your dog will be much happier if he gets to eat at the same time. Give him a chew bone or a bowl of his food to keep him busy and calm

The best thing to do to keep your dog healthy and well-behaved during the holidays is to stick with dog food. Avoid feeding table scraps and call your vet if you notice any signs of an upset stomach or diarrhea.

REFERENCES:
¹www.vetinfo.com/dtoxin.html#b. Accessed December 9, 2011.