The holidays are a time for families to come together, making cherished memories over good drinks and food. Obviously, those of us with furbabies love to include our pups in these happy gatherings. However, between decorating, traveling, and managing guests, it can be easy to lose track of your dog. The stress of all these changes can create the perfect festive storm, causing them to get into trouble, such as getting into the homemade truffles you made or indulging in the glazed ham cooling on the kitchen counter.
Crate training can certainly help manage this situation, but as a responsible dog owner, be aware of holiday foods that could be toxic or make your pooch sick. Luckily, we have made a “Naughty” and “Nice” list so you can know when to laugh off your dog’s foodie celebration or be worried about potential health issues.
Holiday Risks
Let’s face it, even the most diligent dog owner gets distracted during the holidays. Food is left out, dogs get into it, and then you are stuck googling whether you need to rush to the emergency room.
Three of the biggest emergencies dogs experience from overindulging in human food over the holidays include Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV or bloat), pancreatitis, or toxicity. Let’s take a quick look:
- GDV: When a dog eats or drinks too fast, their stomach can fill up with air or gas, causing their stomach to twist. Bloat can be a fatal condition and should be taken very seriously with a trip to the veterinarian. It usually affects larger, big-chested dogs, but any dog that gorges themselves on holiday snacks can quickly become sick. Symptoms include: pacing, drooling, whining, and a very bloated stomach.
- Acute Pancreatitis: An inflamed pancreas, or pancreatitis, can be chronic or acute. During the holidays, veterinarians see an uptick in acute pancreatitis cases in dogs that are getting into garbage or sneaking fatty foods. Certain breeds and older dogs are more likely to suffer from this, with symptoms like not eating, diarrhea, throwing up, and general discomfort.
- Toxicity: Toxicity is an emergency situation where your dog eats something poisonous, causing anything from a mild stomachache to organ failure. Symptoms of poisoning can include: drooling, discomfort, diarrhea, vomiting, or even seizures.
Now that we understand some of the more common emergencies that dogs risk from overindulging during the holidays, let’s learn about common festive foods to avoid!
The Naughty List
While the naughty list of foods for your dog to avoid might seem long, not every item is an emergency. We broke this list up into two sections: foods to avoid and toxic foods!
Foods To Avoid
- Dark Meat and other fatty meats/skin: The heavy fat content in dark meat and cooked skin can upset your dog’s stomach and cause pancreatitis.
- Ham: Ham has a high sodium content that can lead to vomiting, discomfort, and pancreatitis.
- Stuffing or dressing: Traditional stuffing has many ingredients (onions, garlic, spices, and butter) that will irritate your dog’s stomach, causing vomiting, diarrhea, or pancreatitis. Not to mention, gorging on bread can fill up your dog’s stomach quickly, causing GDV.
- Bread dough: Uncooked bread dough continues to rise even after being eaten. Your dog can suffer from GDV or an impaction after sneaking this food.
- Adult beverages: Alcohol and eggnog are beverages that should not be shared with your pup. Dairy can be very fatty, upsetting their stomach, and their systems cannot process alcohol.
- Cooked Bones: Dogs can choke or suffer an impaction from cooked bones, especially poultry bones. (A hidden or covered trash can can help a dog resist temptation for cooked bones and other leftovers that might make them sick!)
Toxic Foods
- Chocolate: A chemical called theobromine is extremely toxic to dogs and is prevalent in chocolate. While your 70lb Golden Retriever might not get sick sneaking a couple of chocolate chip cookies left out for Santa, chocolate (especially dark chocolate) in large quantities can lead to heart arrhythmias and requires an immediate emergency vet visit.
- Grapes and Raisins: Found on Christmas fruit platters, celebration breads, and puddings, grapes and raisins are extremely toxic for dogs. Severe cases include kidney failure and require urgent care.
- Macadamia nuts: Whether you are baking holiday cookies or putting out a nut mix with your holiday charcuterie board, macadamia nuts are not to be shared with your furry family members. They are poisonous, causing fever or even seizures.
- Caffeine: Have you ever had too much coffee and felt like you were vibrating? Dogs feel similar side effects, except they can lead to high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, and can be fatal.
- Xylitol: Xylitol is an alternative sweetener found in common items like sugar-free gum, peanut butter, and other diet snacks. It can lead to organ failure. Even if you only suspect your dog has gotten into something with Xylitol, head to the vet immediately!
The Nice List
Many dogs love being included in festive celebrations with their families! Here are some canine-safe foods to help them feel like they are truly a part of the holidays.
- Canned Pumpkin: Best served frozen in a slow feeder or Kong!
- Homemade Dog Cookies: From liver to (Xylitol-free) peanut butter treats, there are tons of recipes to be discovered online! Make a fun day out of baking with your pup!
- Green Beans: Make sure to get fresh or sodium-free canned beans!
- Unseasoned meat: Light turkey or chicken meat is easiest on their stomachs.
- Stocking Stuffers: Store-bought treats, bully sticks, or Himalayan cheese will help make your dog’s holiday season extra special!
Your Dog Ate Something…Don’t Panic!
It is scary to think your dog might be suffering from toxicity, pancreatitis, or bloat. However, don’t panic! Call your veterinarian or the pet poison helpline for guidance on whether you have a true emergency or not. While vomiting and diarrhea can be signs of serious trouble, they don’t always mean a mad dash to urgent care is needed. Keep an eye out for other red flags like fever, heavy panting, drooling, obvious discomfort, or restlessness. When in doubt, trust your instincts and ask for help!
Final Festive Thoughts
The holidays should be joyful for everyone, two-legged and four-pawed alike. Prevent stressful emergencies before they happen by knowing which foods are naughty or nice, keeping tempting treats out of reach, and setting clear boundaries with well-meaning guests (“please don’t feed the dog!”). A little planning goes a long way in keeping your pup safe, comfortable, and included. Focus on dog-friendly treats, supervision, and routines, and you’ll be free to enjoy what truly matters: cozy moments, wagging tails, and making happy Christmas memories together that last far longer than the leftovers.
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December 11, 2021