Arguably, no holiday is more food focused than Thanksgiving. While you’re whipping up family favorites, it’s important to realize that some common ingredients—even those that are considered healthy for humans—can be toxic to Minou and Fideaux.
Turkey and other bones can cause gastric problems. So, any decision to provide your pet with food not specifically intended for animals should be discussed with your veterinarian.
To promote a safe and happy holiday, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) presents a list of food to keep away from pets.
Admittedly, most owners would never purposely feed their pets these items. However, since pets are prone to nibbling anything within reach, it’s good to be vigilant when these ingredients are out.
Foods that are dangerous for pets
Alcoholic beverages
Apple seeds
Apricot pits
Avocados
Candy (particularly chocolate—which is toxic to dogs, cats, and ferrets—and any candy containing the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
Cherry pits
Chocolate
Coffee (grounds, beans, and chocolate-covered espresso beans)
Check with your vet before letting your pet eat turkey.
Garlic
Grapes
Gum (can cause blockages and sugar-free gums may contain the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
Hops (used in home beer brewing)
Macadamia nuts
Moldy foods
Mushroom plants
Mustard seeds
Onions and onion powder
Peach pits
Peanut utter that contains xylitol
Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
Raisins
Rhubarb leaves
Salt tea (because it contains caffeine)
Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
Walnuts
Xylitol (artificial sweetener that is toxic to pets)
Yeast dough
If your pet ingests any of these foods, call your veterinarian immediately. If your vet’s office is closed for Thanksgiving or any other reason, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Locally, several pet emergency rooms will provide 24-hour care during the holidays including LSU School of Veterinary Medicine (578-9900), Baton Rouge Pet Emergency Hospital (925-5566) and Sherwood South Animal Hospital Emergency and Critical Care Center (293-7747).
Pet-friendly recipe: Sweet potato jerky for dogs
If you want to make a safe Thanksgiving treat to share with Fideaux, HSUS offers this one-ingredient recipe. This healthy, super simple treat will have your four-legged—and maybe even your two-legged friends—begging for more.
Ingredient: Fresh, raw sweet potatoes (preferably large ones)
Directions: Preheat the oven to 225 F (107 C). Scrub the sweet potatoes and make sure there is no mold on the skins. The number of potatoes you use depends on the amount of jerky strips you plan to make. Cut the sweet potatoes lengthwise into 1/2- to 2/3-inch strips. Place the strips on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake the sweet potato strips for 3 to 4 hours. For crunchier treats, bake them longer. (Don’t be afraid to test them yourself or your friends and family along the way.) Allow the strips to cool before storing them in an airtight container.
Tips: As with all jerky, monitor your pet and adjust the size of the pieces, so they do not present a choking hazard.
Creature feature
If you’d like to see another happy face around your house for the annual feast, all of these Companion Animal Alliance (CAA) pets would be thankful for a new family.
Celia (#61416) is an adorable full-grown beagle mix.
Amelia (#59829) is a beautiful black-and-white kitten.
Axel (foster care) is a gorgeous Catahoula/Australian shepherd mix. Axel loves attention and going for walks around the neighborhood. At around 2 years old, Axel is housetrained and weighs in just below 50 pounds. In his foster home, he loves to play with the household dog and “talk” to the cat, so he would enjoy the company of canine buddies and older, gentle kids.
Bagheera (foster care) was trapped and brought to the shelter as part of a stray cat removal request. Despite living on the streets, this big Russian blue mix is friendly as can be. At first this 3-year-old was a hider, but now he absolutely loves toys and getting attention. Bagheera weighs in over 10 pounds, perfect for the family that is looking for a big couch potato! Bagheera also does well with other animals, so siblings—whether two- or four-legged—would be fine, too.
Grizzly (#61439) is a gorgeous adult male retriever mix.
Battery (#56986) is a beautiful, adult female orange tabby, who gets along well with other cats.
Dee (#61323) is a spunky, young adult female terrier/poodle mix.
All these pets have been spayed/neutered and vaccinated and litterbox trained. Many other adoptable dogs, puppies, cats and kittens are available from Companion Animal Alliance.
