A Holiday Meal For Dogs
Don't exclude your pooch out of a hearty Holiday meal! With these
pet-friendly ideas, your dog will have plenty to be thankful for.
Holiday’s are a time to celebrate the blessings of the season with
family and friends. With a bounty of home-cooked food in your home, you may be
tempted to share a few tasty treats with your canine companion, too. After all,
who can resist a dog’s soulful eyes begging for just one little gobble-full of
turkey? Wafting aromas of hot baked sweet potatoes, herb-filled stuffing, or
spicy pumpkin pie are much too alluring for even the best-behaved pet to pass up.
But hold off feeding your dog from the Holiday table. Veterinary experts
warn that many of the traditional holiday recipes for people are dangerous to
your dog’s health. According to the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
Society, feeding dogs large quantities of a new food, as well as fatty foods,
such as turkey gravy, mashed potatoes with butter, and dressing, can cause
pancreatitis. This potentially deadly inflammation of the pancreas produces
severe symptoms of diarrhea or vomiting.
Forget giving your dog a holiday bone, too. Cooked turkey, duck, geese,
and other bird bones are extremely dangerous to dogs. Cooked bones splinter and
break easily, possibly causing sharp pieces to tear the intestines. A bone
could pass by itself, but more often it becomes lodged in the dog’s throat,
which could cause choking, or it could possibly cause an intestinal
obstruction. Both situations require emergency veterinary attention and likely
surgery. Eliminate turkey skin as well. It’s hard to digest and high in fat,
and the seasoning used to baste the poultry skin could give your dog an upset
stomach.
Desserts are also off-limits. Chocolate can be fatal to dogs because it
contains theobromine, which can increase your dog’s heart rate and cause
hyperactivity, increased panting, twitching, diarrhea, and vomiting. Even
sugar-free items that contain xylitol can be dangerous, causing stomach or
intestinal irritation.
Beware of onions, too! These popular Holiday ingredients used in
stuffing, vegetable dishes, and some salads can cause life-threatening anemia
when a dog ingests large amounts.
Healthy Holiday Treats for Your Dog
If you must share your holiday meal with your dog, do it safely with the
following healthy foods, rather than feeding it directly
from the table. Resist giving in to those pleading canine faces by adding a few
things in your dog’s bowl before you sit down to dine. When your dog is full,
it’s less likely to bother you.
For a dog who’s accustomed to eating commercial dry dog food, feeding a
bowlful of fresh treats all at once is almost certain to cause intestinal
upset. Instead, feed small amounts at different meals.
Here are a few Healthy Holiday choices for dogs:
- White meat turkey without the skin
·
- Plain baked or sweet potatoes without the skin
- Steamed carrots, broccoli, or string beans without any butter, sauce or
seasoning
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- Salt-free canned chicken broth
·
- Plain canned pumpkin, but not the pumpkin pie filling
·
- Sliced raw apples
Safe Cleanup
Holiday leftovers can also be dangerous to your canine companion and
should be stored or discarded out of paw’s reach. Turkey bones, the string used to tie the
poultry legs together, and the carcass itself can be lethal to your dog if
eaten.
Cook a Canine Feast
Want to bake a healthy Holiday treat for your dog? Try some sweet potato
cookies from "The Ultimate Dog Treat Cookbook," by Liz Palika.
Mix together:
- 2 cups diced sweet potato, cooked until very tender
·
- 1-l/4 cups whole wheat flour
·
- 1 cup warm water
·
- 2 large eggs
·
- 1 2.5-ounce jar turkey baby food
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees
for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool thoroughly
before serving. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
There’s no reason
why your dog can’t join in the festivities – just make sure that you feed it
safe treats, and everyone will be happy.
By Elaine Waldorf Gewirtz for WEBVET
