Pets can’t eat most human food. Here’s what you can give them during the holiday season
Throughout the holiday season, pet owners might feel inclined to pass along leftover dinner scraps to their furry friends. However, many foods that are safe for human consumption are not necessarily safe for your pet to munch on.
The News Tribune breaks down what holiday foods are more or less safe for your pets and what treats you should definitely keep out of their food bowl.
Dietary and health factors
Before giving your pet any type of food, it’s important to consider your animal’s dietary needs and how their bodies handle certain foods. For instance, dogs are omnivores, which means they can eat fruits and vegetables. However, cats are carnivores, so their bodies only receive energy through protein and derive none from carbohydrates, according to Elizabeth Hughs, a doctor of veterinary medicine at Tacoma Animal Hospital.
“The way we metabolize energy and food is the same exact whether you’re human or animal,” Hughs said. “It’s just what food can we tolerate, and that’s what’s different.”
If you want to treat your pet to human food, avoid giving them too much so as not to overfeed them, which may lead to weight gain and other health risks such as diabetes and heart problems.
Dog owners should also take their pet’s breed and age into account before slipping them a holiday treat. Smaller dog breeds have higher metabolisms than larger breeds, so they require more calories per body pound in comparison. Furthermore, older dogs generally require fewer calories overall than their younger selves, and their bodies don’t process protein like they used to.
Once you better understand your pet’s specific dietary requirements, you can judge whether they deserve licking the remains of your holiday dinner plate.
Fruits and vegetables
If an owner chooses to treat their pet around the holidays, Hughs recommends only giving them fruits or vegetables; too many processed foods contain sugars, sodium and other additives that can upset your pet’s stomach.
For dogs, veggies are excellent treats, as they are low in calories and contain healthful nutrients, according to Hughs. She recommends apple slices, chopped celery, carrot bits (but only from a large carrot because baby carrots contain too much sugar), and sweet potatoes.
“Those are all what I call free calories,” Hughs said. “And those are all safe to give an animal – of course, in relative quantity.”
Meats
Although Hughs advises owners to stick with just fruits and veggies for pet treats – some meats can be safe for a pet in small quantities. As Hughs points out, these meats should be bland, meaning it should be flavorless and have little to no fat. Stick with feeding your pet white meat from a turkey or chicken, and make sure there is no gravy or added sauce on it.
Owners should stray from meats high in fat, such as a roasted ham or a strip of bacon. When a dog consumes high quantities of this type of food, it can develop a life-threatening disease called pancreatitis. This rule also extends to fried foods, too.
Additionally, Hughs advises not handing a pet any bones, as they are too big and could get stuck in their mouth or throat, which would require emergency surgery.
Other holiday treats
Aside from meats and vegetables, many holiday-themed foods are unfortunately unsuitable for pet consumption. Sweets like gingerbread, sugar cookies and eggnog contain too much sugar and would likely result in illness. Other ingredients in baked goods – such as chocolate, pecans and macadamia nuts – are toxic and possibly deadly.
One sweet treat Hughs recommends, though, is natural peanut butter, as it is safe to serve to pets in moderation.
