Holiday Dog Food Safety

Hello World!  Welcome Friends!  Today we have a guest post from Casey Dickson, Rover.com community member. Rover is the nation’s largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

Including Fido in the Feast

We’ve all been there — you’ve created a beautiful meal (or, let’s be honest, are holding anything that resembles food), and your dog is at the ready — to beg and gobble any tiny little crumb you drop.  Instead of giving your pup what’s in your hand, and probably not good for him, opt for a nutritious meal from Dr. Marty dog food.

It’s a year-round tradition inherent in dog ownership, but the begging definitely amplifies during the months-long holiday season. In order to both keep your pup safe from any foods that may harm him or her, and, as a bonus, make those tails wag with a little extra holiday cheer, keep these tips, tricks, and precautions in mind, from your friends at Rover.com.

Foods to Be Wary Of

You, like most dog owners, likely already know the basics regarding foodstuffs to keep far, far away from your pup’s trash compactor-esque jaws. But you may not know precisely why these foods negatively affect Fido’s digestive process. Here’s a few foods that show up on many holiday tables, what they do to a pup’s system, and why they need to be kept away from any dog bowls or reward systems.

Turkey skin: with so much grease and spice, turkey skin is not a good idea for pup consumption. Though they may more-than-willingly gobble any piece of turkey given with extreme gratitude, they won’t feel so great processing it later. Plain, lean, unseasoned, and boneless turkey meat, however, is perfectly safe (but also hard to find on your average holiday feast.)

Canned cranberry sauce: too high in sugar! Don’t feed this to your pup unless you want them to have major stomach issues and the runs later.

Nuts: walnuts contain a toxin called tremorgenic mycotoxins, which has been known to cause seizures in some dogs. Pecans and pistachios can cause upset stomach or even an obstruction.

Onions, garlic, leeks and scallions: found in many a holiday dish, these ingredients that are so essential to humans for delicious flavor are bad news for your dog. How bad? Toxic. Make sure to thoroughly vet any scraps you dole out to make sure they’re not steeped in any of these foods.

Chocolate: a major duh, but we’re including it anyways because it’s so important. Chocolate’s caffeine and theobromine content can be poisonous and fatal to pups. Keep away!

And while we’re at it, you also want to blacklist these human snacks: gravy, raisins and grapes (holiday fruit salads and casseroles, we’re looking at you), and raw dough (keep Fido away from the pie-making process).

So What Can Your Dog Eat?

It’s not all-beg-and-no-play when it comes to the holiday table! Buddy can certainly enjoy some of the same ingredients we wait all year to indulge in during the holiday season. One of the best is pumpkin: rich in fiber, potassium, iron, beta carotene and vitamin A, it’s a healthy and delicious treat that’s on-brand holiday menu. Try making these pup-approved treats to include your four-legged friend in the festivities!

Pumpkin, Peanut Butter, and Cinnamon Treats

2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
2 eggs
3 ¾ cups pumpkin puree
3 tablespoons peanut butter
Dash of cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together and roll out on floured surface. Use choice of cookie cutter (or round glass), place on baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes.

Thank you, Casey for such great information!

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