Home

>

Dog

>

Seasonal Topics

>

Holiday People Food: What's Safe - and What's Not - For Your Dog

Holiday people food: What's safe for our pets and what's not

Updated on August 20, 2021
Reviewer Profile Photo
Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

Thanksgiving | Hanukkah | Christmas | Emergencies | Build a Barkuterie Board

Safe people food for dogs

You're whipping up your family's secret holiday cookie recipe when you notice your pet staring at you, hoping you might share a taste. As the holiday season rolls around, you might wonder if it's okay to indulge your dog or cat with a treat or two from your favorite festive recipes. While it can be tempting to give in to your pet's endearing begging stares, the reality is that a lot of people food isn't healthy for animal consumption.  

Avoiding an upset stomach or a trip to the vet for food-related issues during the holiday season is all about understanding what foods are and aren't safe for your pet. In this guide, we'll take a look at common seasonal foods and what items are okay to share with your pets in moderation and which ones should be kept away. While each list contains foods that are typical for that holiday, make sure to read through them all for a comprehensive look at popular holiday foods. As a rule, any people food you offer your pet should have no added seasoning, oil, butter or other ingredients, as they are unhealthy for your pet and have potential to be toxic. 

It’s also important to keep in mind that your pet’s commercially available dog or cat food is balanced to meet their nutritional needs and should make up 90% or more of their diet, while treats and people food should comprise no more than 10% of their daily caloric intake. Offering too many treats can lead to obesity as well as a number of weight-related diseases. 

Safe People Food for Your Dog

Thanksgiving

Ah, Thanksgiving! The ultimate foodie holiday when plates are stacked high with steaming mashed potatoes, rich stuffing and a big slice of turkey. This Thanksgiving, when your pup is pawing at your plate or your cat is jumping onto the counter to steal a savory morsel, make sure you are aware of which foods are safe for your pets to eat and which ones should be kept carefully out of reach.

Safe Thanksgiving treats ˇ

Arrow up icon

Sweet Potatoes: When plainly cooked and served, it’s okay for your dog to try a bite of sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are rich in fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C and beta-carotene. Potatoes: A plain, cooked white potato is okay for your dog to try a bite. White potatoes contain vitamins C and B6. Apples: High in fiber, a small, plain slice of apple can be a good low-calorie treat for your pet. Green beans: Plain green beans, cooked or served raw, are also a good low-calorie treat to offer your pet. Green beans contain fiber, manganese and vitamins C and K.  Turkey meat: Unseasoned, cooked and served in moderation, a small piece of turkey without bones or skin is a healthy protein treat for your pet. Pumpkin: Wonderful for digestion, plain, cooked pumpkin can be used in small amounts as a topper for your pet's Thanksgiving meal.

Thanksgiving foods to keep out of reach ˇ

Arrow up icon

Gravy: High in sodium content, seasonings and fat, gravy can cause an upset stomach in pets and may be toxic depending on what ingredients have been added during the cooking process. Turkey bones: Turkey bones should always be kept away from pets as they pose a choking hazard and can cause GI obstruction or perforation. Garlic and onions: These two foods contain n-propyl disulfide, which is toxic to pets, and should never be served. Stuffing and casseroles: High in sodium and often containing onion, stuffing and casseroles can cause an upset stomach or be toxic to your pet.  Raisins and grapes: These foods are toxic to pets and can lead to organ failure. Desserts: With high amounts of sugar, these treats can be hard on your pet's stomach. Particularly dangerous are any sweets containing xylitol, which can be lethal when ingested by pets. Alcoholic beverages: Pets should never consume alcoholic beverages, as theycan be toxic and may lead to vomiting, lethargy and organ damage.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah, or The Festival of Lights, is a beautiful time spent reflecting and celebrating with family and friends. Your furry family member will surely enjoy the joy of the special holiday season, but not all Hanukkah treats are an ideal snack for your dog or cat. Keep the following food do's and don'ts in mind to keep your pet safe during the Hanukkah season.

Safe Hanukkah treats ˇ

Arrow up icon

Chicken: Similar to turkey, unseasoned, cooked boneless chicken with the skin removed can be provided in moderation as a healthy protein. Avoid raw chicken as the bacteria could be harmful to your pet’s stomach.  Applesauce: When prepared without additional sugar, spices or seasoning, small amounts of applesauce can be a delicious addition to your pet's Hanukkah dinner. Carrots: Raw or cooked, a plain carrot is a low-calorie treat. Carrots are high in fiber and beta-carotene.

Hanukkah foods to keep out of reach ˇ

Arrow up icon

Latkes: While the potato in latkes is safe, they often contain oil, seasonings and onions, which are toxic to pets. Brisket: This meat is high in fat and is not a healthy choice for your pet, as it can lead to obesity and compounding health concerns. High-fat foods can also be hard on your pet's stomach and pancreas. Gelt: Keep these chocolate coins out of reach of your pets, as the chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to pets. Sufganiyot: These fried doughnuts are high in fat, oil and sugar, which are all hard on your pet's digestive system.  Kugel: Made with cream and butter, this dish is best kept out of the reach of pets, as these rich ingredients are not only unhealthy for your pet but can also be difficult for them to digest.

Christmas

Christmas is often a holiday season full of indulgences. From tasty Christmas cookies to a beef pot roast, however you plan to celebrate, make sure you pay careful attention to any food your pet consumes. Christmas treats for your dog or cat should be kept to pet-safe choices only.

Safe Christmas treats ˇ

Arrow up icon

Roast beef: When cooked without oils, salt or seasoning, a small slice of roast beef can be a tasty high-protein treat. Pears: Pears are a low-calorie treat that can be provided in moderation. Pears contain vitamins C and K, as well as fiber. Squash: Cooked squash can be chopped up and added to your pet's food dish as a low-calorie topper—just make sure it isn't seasoned or buttered. Squash is high in fiber and vitamins. Blueberries: Rich in antioxidants, a small handful of fresh blueberries sprinkled over your pet's food dish is a great Christmas treat.  Cheese: Offered in small amounts on occasion, plain cheese is okay for your pet. Rice: Plain, cooked rice is generally considered easy on the stomach and can be added to your pet's Christmas plate in moderation.

Christmas foods to keep out of reach ˇ

Arrow up icon

Walnuts and macadamia nuts: These nuts are toxic to pets and can cause lethargy, weakness, vomiting and tremors. Baking powder or baking soda: When baking Christmas cookies or other desserts, be sure to keep these two ingredients out of the reach of pets, as they can be toxic. Nutmeg: Nutmeg can also be toxic. Christmas cookies: While you may love a sugary cookie during Christmastime, keep these items away from your pets, as sugar can upset your pet's digestive system. 

What to do in an emergency

If you suspect your pet has gotten into something harmful or they are showing signs of illness—such as vomiting, loss of appetite, excessive water intake or abnormal behavior—contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. If your veterinarian's office is closed for the holidays, call an emergency veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.

Bonus tip: Build a pet-safe barkuterie treat board

Sharing a special treat with your pet over the holidays is a great way to show how much you care. If you're looking for an extra special treat, consider building a pet-safe barkuterie treat board.

Step 1: Start with a nutritious base

On your board, start with your pet's normal food or kibble. This will help ensure they keep their daily treat intake to 10% of their overall diet but still let them feel like they're participating in the activities!

Step 2: Pick a holiday-themed treat 

Add a themed treat front and center - so it's clear what holiday you and your pet are celebrating together!

Step 3: Add different flavors and textures

To mix up their meal, consider adding small bowls of gravies or toppers (maybe pumpkin puree for a seasonal spin), rawhide or even a few of the pet-safe foods listed above. While these are still considered a treat within your pet's daily calorie intake, it really let's them know they're celebrating something special!

Remember, as you build your board to keep in mind that treats outside of their normal foods should only make up 10% of their daily diet. If your treat board features more that that, consider sharing it or storing it away to enjoy the next day.

Don't forget to snap a photo of your furry family member enjoying their special treat board. Remember, the best way to share the joy of the holidays with your pets is to spend time doing the things they love. Whether it is playing a game of hide-the-treats in the house or recovering from a Thanksgiving meal by snuggling on the couch, the holidays are all about sharing time with the ones we love.

Filed Under

Sponsored