What's a Safe Feast for Fido

The PARC’s vets encourage lean and healthy lifestyles for pets. But during the holidays they love that pets are included in family celebrations, including allowing Fido to taste safe delicacies not a part of his normal diet.

No matter how much our pets beg for a bite, anything out of the norm can lead to GI upset. Although people overindulge and just require a nap, your pets pigging out can make for an unhappy, very messy holiday.

Making good choices for your pets and dolling out the goods in moderation will make for a safe Thanksgiving:

• Morsels of turkey are a good choice for the beggars under the table, but remove the rich and fattening skin.
• Pork, especially ham, has the highest fat content. Keep your pets safe by choosing leaner meat treats.
• Dogs love bites of bread, but keep the uncooked yeast rolls out of reach. Alcohol from the fermenting yeast is poisonous and can cause a pet’s stomach to expand and bloat.
• Cooked plain carrots and green beans are excellent low-cal choices.
• Don’t let them stuff the stuffing. Onions, chives, scallions, and garlic are toxic to dogs and cats.
• No bones about it, bones are always bad for lots of reasons.
• Mashed potatoes with butter and cream can cause diarrhea, but roasted plain potatoes are good and easy to catch across the room.
• Apples are crunchy and contain good nutrients, but grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure.
• Chocolate and dessert recipes with Xylitol and nutmeg aren’t a sweet treat for pets, ever.
• Dogs love sweet potatoes (without the butter, cream, and marshmallows) and they support a healthy digestive system thanks to their high dietary fiber content.  

No matter your best efforts, pet illnesses and accidents can happen on holidays too. The PARC is open 24/7 all year long, including Thanksgiving Day. We’ll be here whenever you and Fido need us the most.