A Holiday Meal for Cats & Dogs

Thanksgiving and Christmas are just a few days away and you know what that means…plenty of food to feast on.

There’s a warning to pet owners who may be tempted to feed their four-legged friends turkey and all the fix-ins.  Mouth-watering turkey is what many cats and dogs want to get their paws on and sink their teeth into.

Forget giving your dog a holiday bone. Cooked turkey, duck, geese, and other bird bones are extremely dangerous to dogs. Cooked bones splinter and break easily, possibly causing sharp pieces to tear the intestines. A bone could pass by itself, but more often it becomes lodged in the dog’s throat, which could cause choking, or it could possibly cause an intestinal obstruction.

In addition to the intestinal danger that results from eating bones, dogs may experience cracking or breaking of teeth. This could result in prolonged periods of pain for the animal because tooth injuries are not as easily noticed as other physical ailments. When the problem is discovered, the dog may have to undergo oral surgery to remove infections, reconstruct a tooth, or extract teeth. This is painful and traumatic for the dog and can be very costly for the dog’s guardian.

If a pet owner is in doubt regarding proper nutrition for a dog, it is recommended that they consult a veterinarian.   Food requirements vary, depending on a dog’s breed, weight, and size. If a pet owner can’t bear not to give the dog a treat, use rawhide or chew bones made of dog food purchased at the store or pet shop.

A proper diet for a dog contains a balance of nutrients that are low in fat and are easily digestible. Veterinarians do not recommend that dogs receive ‘table scraps’ or leftovers from the owner’s meals. Eating these foods can result in weight gain and a rejection of food specifically prepared for dogs. In particular, dogs should never be given chocolate, raw meats, or raw organ meats.  For information about feeding your cats and dogs consult your personal Veterinarian.

Feeding dogs bones is not a good thing to do!  You would rather spend your Holiday time with your family and not at the animal clinic with the Veterinarian.

Happy Holiday’s

Filed under: Cats • Dogs • Hand Pets

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