Tips For Healthy, Pet-Friendly Holiday Meals

We’re all spending lots of time in the kitchen as Christmas draws closer. But which of the foods you’re whipping up are safe to share with your pet?

This time of year is filled with presents under the tree, and pets under the table. We’re all guilty of slipping our four-legged family members bits of people food. It can be particularly temping to do so around the holidays—food is such a large part of the way we celebrate, it’s only natural that we want to include our dogs.

However, many holiday-food staples can make your pup sick. The experts at pet nutrition company PetLab as well as Anne Pless, head trainer at Good Dog Pet Training in Mahwah and double-certified by the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP), offer a rundown and tips on what treats are good-to-go this holiday season, and which ones you should avoid.

What to avoid

• Onions, leeks and shallots: Vegetables in the onion family are highly toxic to dogs and should never be ingested. N-propyl disulphide is the poisonous compound in onion that damages your dog by breaking down their red blood cells and causing anemia.
• Garlic: Garlic is poisonous to dogs due to the thiosulfate compound. Similar to onions, this compound will attack your dog’s red blood cells, which are the primary carrier of oxygen in the body. This is why you should avoid giving your dog your leftovers, as there could be traces of these toxic foods on them.
• Stuffing: This side dish is highly inadvisable for dogs as it includes those toxic ingredients. Stuffing is usually filled with onions, chives, garlic, lots of salt and other processed additives which will make your pup sick in ingested.
• Gravy made for humans: These should be avoided because they include high amounts of fat and salt. They can also contain traces and measurements of toxic onion and garlic.
• Meat with cooked bones: Pless cautions against this specifically. “Once bones are cooked, they can splinter inside the dog, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, blockages and trips to the vet,” she says.

Concerned about your pet getting into food they shouldn’t during a holiday dinner? “I always recommend that clients have a stuffed Kong at home that you can pack with pet-safe, small-quantity yummy treats,” Pless says. “You can mix regular dog food with some plain yogurt, pumpkin puree —make sure it’s not pumpkin pie filling, though!—or baby food, pack it in and freeze it. Then, when you sit down to eat, you can put your dog in their crate or in another safe room with that Kong. This way they’re still getting something yummy, but it’s in a small quantity and you don’t need to worry about your guests slipping them table scraps.”

What’s fine for Fido

Veggies:

Many vegetables are a great treat for your dog, provided that they are raw, mashed or boiled. Avoid them if they have too many add-ins like butter, salt or milk.

• Brussels sprouts: These are a fantastic way to introduce to your dog as a healthy treat or in their Christmas dinner as they are rich in vitamins, extremely fibrous and low in calories and fat.
• Broccoli: This vegetable is extremely high in fiber and is a great provider of vitamins C and K, as well as potassium, sodium and magnesium. The antioxidants inside broccoli are highly beneficial for your dog as they help fight against allergies, work to create a stronger immune system, improve cognitive functions, and improve joint health.
• Carrots: Carrots are a great source of vitamin A, which has fantastic nutritional value for your pup. This vegetable promotes good eye health for your dog, improves their immune system and works wonders to keep their coat healthy and shiny. “When clients ask, ‘what can I give my dog,’ carrots are a go-to,” says Pless. “I usually do uncooked—I take a jumbo carrot and let them sit and chew on that for a little bit.”

Meat:

If you want to treat your dog to some meat over the holidays, here are a few other things to keep in mind.

• White meat chicken and turkey: Both of these are the ideal meat to give your dog on the big day, so long as it is boneless and skinless. But be careful! Giving your pup either turkey or chicken skin can cause internal irritation and damage to your dog, as well as being extremely fatty and unhealthy.
• Pork: Pork products should only be given to your furry friend if they are lean cut, in small amounts and well cooked. Unfortunately, pigs in blankets are way too salty and fatty to feed your pup, no matter how tempting and tasty your dog might find them.
• Bone broth: Nutritious bone broth is brilliant for dogs. It is also a great way to get your pup’s health back on track if they are sick, as it offers a fantastic boost to their immune system and can be great if they are off solids from an upset stomach.
  Bone broth is packed with ideal nutrients and minerals, tastes yummy and will work to improve joint and gut health. Bone broths are also available in jelly form, which might add more texture to your dog’s bowl.

Even when treating your pup to pet-safe food, Pless all urges dog owners to keep an eye out when giving their pets food they may not be used to. “If it’s not part of your pet’s regular diet and then you flood them one day a year, you can still cause upset stomachs even with pet-safe food,” she explains.

What healthy foods do you give to your dog as a treat? Tell us on Instagram @bergenmagnj.