Holidays are a time for humans to gather around the dinner table to give thanks and enjoy a feast, and since most people consider dogs to be family members, they like to include their canine best friend in the festivities. Most dogs are eager to take part, especially when there's food. But it pays to be informed. Most holiday foods aren't good for dogs - and some can even kill them. Here are some holiday foods that are bad for dogs.
Toxic Foods for Dogs: Candy Treats
Halloween and Christmas bring lots of candy treats that dogs are all too eager to enjoy - sometimes to their peril. Two types of candy treats are toxic to dogs - those that contain chocolate and sugar-free treats sweetened with xylitol. Most people already know that chocolate is bad for their canine friends, because it contains theobromine, which is a central nervous system stimulant. In dogs, it causes nervousness, vomiting, seizures and can progress to coma and death. Needless to say, it's important to keep chocolate treats away from dogs.
Xylitol is a sweetener used in sugar-free gums, candies and baked goods - and it's highly toxic to dogs. It doesn't take a lot of xylitol to kill a dog. A small dog can develop toxicity symptoms after ingesting only a few sticks of xylitol-sweetened gum. Once they've eaten it, a dog may have problems standing up, experience seizures, vomit, hemorrhage or become unresponsive. They can also develop liver failure and serious drops in blood sugar. Keep sugar-free treats away from dogs if they contain xylitol.
Nuts
Another group of toxic foods for dogs that people enjoy around the holidays are nuts. Only macadamia nuts and walnuts are directly toxic, but any nut can cause an intestinal obstruction or pancreatitis in dogs. Walnuts and macadamia nuts should be strictly off-limits, but it's best to avoid giving your dog any holiday nuts regardless of type.
Alcoholic Beverages
Some families like to give the dog a sip of champagne on New Year's Eve. Bad practice. Dogs usually weigh less than humans, so even a small amount of alcohol can have harmful effects. Most vets urge pet owners not to even let their dog lick ice cubes that have been in an alcoholic drink. Alcohol can kill a dog, so don't give your dog alcoholic beverages for any reason.
Other Foods That are Bad for Dogs
Other foods that may or may not be served around the holidays that are toxic to dogs include tomato leaves, mushrooms, onions, fruit pits, raisins, grapes, yeast dough, rhubarb leaves, potato leaves, hops, mustard seeds and tomato leaves. In addition, steer clear of foods that are high in salt or fat. Fat increases the risk of pancreatitis in dogs.
Toxic Foods for Dogs: The Bottom Line?
Make your dog a part of the holiday festivities, but do it safely. Don't give it foods that are bad for dogs - no matter how hard it begs. Give it a dog cookie instead.
References:
Humane Society website.
The Merck Veterinary Manual. Kahn and Line. 2010.
Kristie Leong - I'm a family physician interested in all aspects of traditional and alternative medicine, especially the use of nutrition to prevent ...
