What Not To Feed Your Pet On Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the traditional beginning of the festive season. This is a national holiday in countries like Canada and US. The idea was originally to celebrate the harvest, but over the years it has been celebrated to be thankful in general. It will be celebrated on November 23rd, 2017; officially kicking off the festive season.

Thanksgiving brings all the family members together and is celebrated over a feast featuring various dishes. Although the food may vary in different ethnicities and households there are a few solid staples that are a part of the Thanksgiving feast.

The traditional dinner served consists of roasted turkey, green olives, baked carrots, gravy, mashed potatoes, fruit pie, meat pie, and a fruitcake. People often decorate the tables with extravagant cutlery and tableware.

The food is preferably homemade with the safe and healthy ingredients. You may feel like sharing this delicious meal with your furry companion, which is a great idea. If there is food that is harmful to your pet, you can always share food that is safe for them to eat.

Alternatively, you can prepare something special or visit the pet bakery to indulge your pet. If you are a pet owner, you already understand that your pet will be begging for treats from you and your guests. In these circumstances, inform your guests about the foods that may be detrimental to the health of your pet.

Here are some foods that should not be fed to your pet

• Grapes are harmful

Grapes are an integral part of the Thanksgiving feast; they are not only delicious, but also add a picturesque touch to your table. However, they are poisonous to dogs and can be fatal leading to a complete kidney failure. Cats may also suffer adverse effects from eating grapes.

• Candies and sweets

Although candies are not a part of the dinner, you need some to keep the children happy. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener present that is used to make sweets and is deadly for your pets, it causes an extreme drop in their blood sugar, which can be fatal. So, no candies for your cats or dogs.

• Onions, garlic, and Chives

Vegetables like celery, onions, garlic, and chives are popularly used to prepare Thanksgiving feasts. They are an important component in turkey stuffing. You might be able to share the turkey meat with your pet, but onions, garlic, celery, and chives are out of the question. Onions can damage red blood cell walls in both cats and dogs. The symptoms may be severe in some cases leading to vomiting diarrhea, and high heart rate.

• Alcohol

Alcohol is dangerous for your pet in any form. Most cakes and some dishes are made with the addition of some kind of alcoholic beverage. Signature fruit cakes often contain rum. Avoid feeding any such thing to your pet. Pets are highly susceptible to alcohol poisoning and may experience vomiting, diarrhea and a score of other diseases.

• Nuts

Nuts are used in the cakes, side dishes and as a stuffing in Thanksgiving dinners. Most dogs are allergic to walnuts and macadamia nuts. Dogs can experience tremors and have difficulty standing if they eat too much nuts.

Bottom line

There are Thanksgiving foods like turkey and pumpkin that your pet can eat. Make sure your pet does not eat any of the above-mentioned foods. Try to arrange their favorite treats separately as you enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner with your guests and family.