By Dr. Zupancich
A Safer Thanksgiving Table: Food Safety for Dogs and Cats
A familiar face beside the Thanksgiving table can make sharing a bite feel like part of the celebration. We understand wanting to include your pet. The safest approach, though, is to keep their usual feeding routine and make sure guests know not to offer food without checking with you.
For families gathering in White Bear Lake this November, pet food safety extends beyond dinner. Kitchen counters, serving dishes, leftovers, and trash all deserve attention. A little planning can help you enjoy the holiday with fewer worries about what your dog or cat might find.
Which holiday foods should stay out of reach?
Keep chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, alcohol, and products containing xylitol away from pets. These ingredients belong on your household’s no-sharing list, including when they appear in mixed dishes, baked goods, or sweets.
A recipe that seems simple may contain ingredients you would never intentionally offer your pet. Rather than asking guests to judge whether each bite is safe, make the rule easy: please leave feeding to you.
If your pet eats something potentially harmful, contact us or an emergency veterinary hospital promptly rather than waiting for symptoms. We know these moments can feel frightening. Having the ingredient list, an estimate of the amount eaten, and the approximate time can help the veterinary team assess the concern.
Why are table scraps, bones, and sudden diet changes risky?
Food does not have to contain a toxic ingredient to cause trouble. Rich table scraps, bones, and an abrupt change from your pet’s usual meals can create different kinds of digestive risks.
Fatty meat trimmings, gravy, and buttery dishes are not good choices for sharing. A sudden serving of unfamiliar food can also upset your pet’s digestion. If you are considering a different diet, talk with us about a transition suited to your dog or cat rather than switching during a busy holiday weekend.
Bones are not a safe way to include your pet in the meal. They can damage teeth, cause choking, or injure or block the digestive tract. Keep turkey carcasses and discarded bones inaccessible, including while clearing plates and taking out the trash.
You can still make your pet part of the gathering without adding something new to their bowl. Familiar attention and time together do not carry the same food-related risks.
Keep leftovers and pet food safely stored
Once dinner ends, put leftovers away promptly and secure food waste where pets cannot reach it. Spoiled food is not suitable for pets, even when they seem eager to eat it. Let guests know where to put unfinished plates so food does not remain on low tables.
Your pet’s own food needs careful handling, too. Food and treats can carry germs that affect both animals and people. Helpful everyday habits include:
- Choose packages without tears, leaks, or other visible damage.
- Follow the label’s storage and refrigeration instructions.
- Keep dry food in its original bag, secured inside a clean storage container if needed.
- Wash your hands before and after handling pet food, and clean bowls and utensils after use.
Raw meat and raw animal-based treats also carry contamination risks. We recommend discussing safer feeding options with us before making a dietary change, especially if someone in your household is more vulnerable to illness.
When should you call about something your pet ate?
Call promptly after a suspected harmful food exposure or swallowed bone, even if your pet seems comfortable. Also contact us about vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite, unusual thirst, or marked tiredness after eating something unfamiliar. These signs can have several causes, so an examination may be needed.
Difficulty breathing, collapse, seizures, or tremors need immediate veterinary attention. Please do not try to make your pet vomit or give a home remedy; ask a veterinary professional what to do next.
If a holiday bite has you worried, contact us at White Bear Animal Hospital. We can help you understand the next step and arrange a sick pet exam when appropriate. If we are unavailable and the concern is urgent, contact an emergency veterinary hospital.