With Thanksgiving Day coming up, the Humane Society issued a warning about feeding pet dogs and cats food from the table.
According to the animal rights group, food items that are typically served during the holiday seasons can be dangerous to the health of pets, The World Link reported.
During the holidays, family members, relatives and close friends are not the only ones who will be celebrating at the dining table. Since most households are pet owners, their furry friends will also most likely gather near the table hoping for a piece of turkey or pie to fall on the floor.
But, no matter how many times the pets beg for food, owners should resist giving them table scraps. Likewise, feeding them leftovers should also be avoided.
This may be hard especially for those who are really close with their pets but according to the Humane Society, many of the meals served during Thanksgiving and other holidays can harm pets.
Bones from turkey and chicken can easily break as pets chew on them and could puncture their intestines and stomach. Also, bones could end up choking the animals or cause severe indigestion problems.
Turkey stuffing too is also dangerous for pets since these contain ingredients such as mushrooms, garlic and onions that are toxic to cats and dogs. Sauces and side dishes like gravy, pumpkin pies and various sugary treats could also have the same effects on the animals and could lead to vomiting and diarrhea.
Another holiday food item that pet owners should avoid giving to their dogs and cats are ham and other pork products since these contain high levels of sodium and can induce digestion problems, according to The Mirror Daily.
The Humane Society also advised against giving pets dessert items such as chocolate, grapes and raisins. Like ingredients of turkey stuffing, these food items are toxic to the animals and can cause kidney failure which could lead to death.
As noted by the animal rights advocate, it would be best to just serve pet food or meals that appropriate for the diet of cats and dogs even during the holiday seasons. If the pets manage to eat any of the food items listed above, owners should immediately call or visit their local veterinarian.
According to the Humane Society, ingesting some of these food items is the number one cause of sickness and death of cats, dogs and other pets during the holiday seasons.
