Under the threat of COVID, many Thanksgiving gatherings were curtailed this year. Whether there’s been a commensurate reduction in the size of holiday spreads is another story.
Even if we’ve scaled back, there are bound to be leftovers. That may mean tripping out on a third tryptophan-laced turkey sandwich or falling into yet another yam-induced couch coma.
Rather than dispose of these delectables in the compost or garbage disposal, some of us may be tempted to sneak an under-the-table snack to our pets.
Most of us know to avoid those flagrant fouls like onions, garlic, chocolate and raisins. But what’s the harm in a small piece of seasoned turkey skin or a few kernels of cob corn?
STOP! Many of those holiday foods that fill us with cheer (and, later, sleep) may bring on serious internal injury and can be fatal to pets.
For example, animal fats used liberally in holiday cooking can cause inflammation of the pancreas in pets. The pancreas produces digestive enzymes and hormones such as insulin which regulates blood sugar or glucose metabolism. An inflamed pancreas inhibits these functions and can result in lethargy, precipitous loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dehydration, nausea and vomiting and, in extreme cases, shock and collapse.
Fats are but one category of foods to hold in check. Turkey stuffing loaded with onions and garlic can cause fatal anemia in pets. Shards of animal bone broken off during enthusiastic chewing can puncture the esophageal lining or intestine causing internal bleeding or painful, life-threatening obstructions requiring emergency surgery.
Fruity sweets can cause diarrhea and vomiting before progressing to kidney failure if not treated immediately. Induced vomiting, activated charcoal and IV fluids administered by a vet may keep additional poisons from being absorbed. Chocolate contains theobromine which is similar to caffeine. In higher doses, theobromine can elevate a pet’s heart rate or blood pressure and bring on seizures and coma. Toxicology studies in animals suggest that a lethal dose of theobromine can range anywhere from 100 to 500 mg per kg of your dog's weight.
Natural sugar substitutes can be hazardous as well. Through a careless act on my part right after we adopted her seven years ago, our Lilly, the Boston terrier, got into a bag of gum sweetened with xylitol. Her blood pressure dropped. Had we not rushed her to the vet, she might have developed liver failure.
To avoid holiday horrors in our animal companions, these food should be restricted:
Turkey or ham bones
Animal skins and fats (cooked or raw)
Gravy and butter
Garlic and onions
Raw dough or cooked stuffing
Eggs (raw)
Nuts
Green beans (spiced and cooked)
Mashed potatoes
Corn on the cob
Mushrooms
Fruits including grapes, raisins, cranberries and cranberry sauce
Sweets including chocolate, marshmallows, jams, jellies and desserts
Alcohol of any kind
Following are holiday treats which pets can safely ingest:
Turkey (cooked, skinless, unseasoned)
Eggs (cooked)
Sweet potatoes (no spices or sweeteners)
Bread (baked)
Green beans (raw)
Carrots (unseasoned)
Apples (raw, no added sugar or spices)
Pumpkin (no added sugar or spices)
Pets ingesting taboo foods should be monitored and taken to the vet immediately should any symptoms arise.
Susan and I went non-traditional in our two-person, one-pooch Thanksgiving celebration. As a result, Lilly got a healthy dose of omega 3s from leftover broiled salmon.
The three of us plan on sharing many more Thanksgivings together.