Now that the holiday season is officially in full swing, it’s totally normal for everyone’s home to be filled with all kinds of goodies – candy, nuts, beverages, and a variety of yummy snacks. Throw into the equation that friends and family members from both in and out of town may stop by for a visit with cakes, pies, and other delicacies. The thought of letting your pets in on all of the fun may come to mind.
However, there are some things that your pet(s) should never eat or consume.
Alcohol
Whether you have a glass of egg nog sprinkled in with a little alcohol or a teaspoon of holiday rum, neither should be shared with your pet. Too much alcohol is harmful for humans, but even a drop of alcohol for a dog or cat can turn out to be deadly. In fact, alcohol can cause a variety of serious issues for pets, such as vomiting, diarrhea, breathing problems, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death.
Chocolate
Chocolate covered almonds or any other kind of chocolate is not a good thing to offer your pet during this holiday season or any other time of the year for that matter. Here’s why: Chocolate has a substance called methylxanthines that’s found in cacao seed, which is used to make coffee and extracts in sodas. It may seem harmless to slip your fur baby a small piece of chocolate candy as a treat, but chocolate can cause abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizers and death. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is.
Milk
You’ve probably heard the adage, “milk does a body good.” However, when it comes to your pet(s), milk and dairy products in general should be avoided. Milk and dairy contain a type of enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk. If you give your pet milk or dairy products, there could be serious consequences and your pet may suffer because of it. Consuming milk can cause diarrhea and a variety of other digestive problems for your dog or cat.
Salty Snacks
Enjoying a few games on television and or binge-watching your favorite shows on Netflix, etc. while downing tasty treats such as potato chips and salted popcorn can give you a sense of comfort and relaxation during the holidays. However, it is a good idea to keep these kind of treats to yourself. Salty snacks can cause excessive thirst, extreme urination, and even cause sodium ion poisoning in pets.
Nuts
There never seems to be a shortage of nuts during the holidays –– almonds, pecans, walnuts, just to name a few. Nuts are nutritious for us humans and it’s something that “we” can consume as often as possible, especially unsalted nuts. But when it comes to your pet(s), whether the nuts you have are salted or unsalted, they should not be shared with your dog or cat. Nuts contain high levels of fat and oils and can cause serious issues, such as pancreatitis.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
These are just a few things to keep away from your pets during the holidays. If you are looking for a sweet treat to give them this holiday season, call up our friends over at Olive’s Cookie Cart in Upland, CA to get a pet-friendly treat for you fur babies!
Credit:
Post written by Nicholas Cole
First Image by Rarnie McCudden
Second Image by Cottonbro