Holiday Foods that you SHOULD and SHOULD NOT share with your Bully Breed Dog!
The urge not to spoil everyone in the home, including your dog, is a struggle during the holiday season. It’s simple. You just want to enhance the bond between yourself and your dog. What better way to do it, than sharing the roast dinner with him. On top of that, you will also add some treats and bonus cookies to show how much you love him. Holidays are filled with joyful moments for all family members, but veterinary clinics are also filled with pets that got sick by eating things they shouldn’t have.
No matter how full a dog’s stomach can be, his eyes will always remain bigger than his stomach. Also, everything that the owner is eating is especially tempting for the dog. Those puppy eyes can make anyone share his/her food with the dog. But not all table-scraps are equal. Some are especially dangerous and there are those that are really healthy.
To say that dogs can only eat dog food is a big lie. Giving some holiday foods to your dog is perfectly okay if you know what to give, how to give it and in what quantity. This article will help you understand the risks associated with certain types of foods and distinguish between foods that are safe and not safe at all.
FOODS YOU SHOULD GIVE
Almost every dog is a fan of roasted turkey and won’t be picky about which part of the bird he gets. You don’t need to throw away tough or grisly turkey parts, but instead, save them for the pup. Turkey is only safe when it’s lean meat, without excess fat, without the skin and without any type of bones. Fatty tissue can cause pancreatic attacks and splintered bones can get stuck in the dog’s throat and intestines, which can perforate the digestive system.
Potatoes are frequently used in the dog food industry. Mashed potatoes are tasty for all dogs so you can share a scoop with your pup anytime. Even if the mashed potatoes contain small amounts of milk or butter it’s still safe, as long as there are no onions or garlic inside.
A small percentage of dogs are lactose intolerant and shouldn’t consume dairy products. For the rest of the bunch, the lucky ones, small portions of cheese will be a great treat for the holidays. The less fat the cheese contains, the better it will be for the dog. Also, tend to avoid extra-smelly cheeses. You can serve the cheese with sliced apple (remove all the seeds first) and your pup will have a delicious and healthy treat.
Satisfying the dog’s sweet tooth can be done with cranberry sauce. Cranberries are filled with antioxidants and dogs love them a lot. The portions should be small and without added sugar. Blueberries can be a great treat for dogs, be it fresh, frozen or baked in a pie. They are filled with strong antioxidants, manganese, vitamins E and C.
Broccoli has anti-cancer properties and is a great source of important minerals (potassium, calcium, and phosphorus), fiber and beta-carotene. It’s a superfood for dogs because it boosts the immune system. Also, guess what? It’s perfectly safe for pups. Broccoli can be served along with green beans. You can give them plain, chopped, canned, raw or steamed. Keep the portions small and the size of the beans not too big to avoid choking hazards. Another vegetable that is healthy for dogs, is the carrot. Carrots are rich in vitamins and fiber and because they are so crunchy, they will aid in maintaining your dog’s oral health by scraping off plaque. Dogs with strong teeth can eat raw carrots, while those that have fewer teeth can be fed with cooked carrots.
Foods you shouldn’t give
Cookies are something people first think of when we mention the holiday season. Those than contain spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg, shouldn’t be given to dogs no matter how enticing they smell to them. Large quantities of nutmeg can cause high blood pressure, confusion, hallucinations, and seizures, while cinnamon can provoke digestive issues in the form of abdominal spasms and internal ulcers.
Any cookies or other foods containing chocolate can quickly disturb the dog’s health which will only mean taking a trip to the veterinary ER. The symptoms of intoxication with chocolate can vary depending on the ingested quantity. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine. Both substances can increase the pup’s heart rate and overstimulate the nervous system. General symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting, tremors, increased urination, restlessness, collapse, and sudden death.
Grapes, raisins, and wine are well-known enemies of dogs. Small amounts can damage the dog’s kidneys. You may not know when the stuffing, salads and casserole-type dishes contain raisins, so double check before you give them to your dog.
Many baked goods, especially those bought in sugar-free groceries contain the artificial sweetener xylitol. Even the smallest amounts of xylitol can alter the dog’s blood sugar significantly and put him in a life or death situation. Be sure to check the labeling before you give baked products to your dog. If you ever spot ‘containing sugar alcohol’ on them, that means a ‘no-no’.
Anything containing onions, garlic or chives is moderately dangerous for dogs. Dogs that consumed large quantities of the former can suffer from digestive problems (with signs of diarrhea and vomiting) and anemia. An anemic dog is lethargic, eats too little or refuses to eat and has pale gums.
Small quantities of bacon or ham might be considered safe for dogs, but excess feeding can cause acute pancreatitis in dogs. If left untreated, pancreatitis can be lethal for the furball. So just in case, avoid giving these meats to your dog.
At last, remember to tell everyone in the house what is safe to give dogs and what isn’t. Get familiar with the common symptoms of intoxication and don’t give your dog too big portions of anything. In case of digestive upset, always keep canned pumpkin. That will soothe the dog’s tummy fast.
No matter how full a dog’s stomach can be, his eyes will always remain bigger than his stomach. Also, everything that the owner is eating is especially tempting for the dog. Those puppy eyes can make anyone share his/her food with the dog. But not all table-scraps are equal. Some are especially dangerous and there are those that are really healthy.
To say that dogs can only eat dog food is a big lie. Giving some holiday foods to your dog is perfectly okay if you know what to give, how to give it and in what quantity. This article will help you understand the risks associated with certain types of foods and distinguish between foods that are safe and not safe at all.
FOODS YOU SHOULD GIVE
Almost every dog is a fan of roasted turkey and won’t be picky about which part of the bird he gets. You don’t need to throw away tough or grisly turkey parts, but instead, save them for the pup. Turkey is only safe when it’s lean meat, without excess fat, without the skin and without any type of bones. Fatty tissue can cause pancreatic attacks and splintered bones can get stuck in the dog’s throat and intestines, which can perforate the digestive system.
Potatoes are frequently used in the dog food industry. Mashed potatoes are tasty for all dogs so you can share a scoop with your pup anytime. Even if the mashed potatoes contain small amounts of milk or butter it’s still safe, as long as there are no onions or garlic inside.
A small percentage of dogs are lactose intolerant and shouldn’t consume dairy products. For the rest of the bunch, the lucky ones, small portions of cheese will be a great treat for the holidays. The less fat the cheese contains, the better it will be for the dog. Also, tend to avoid extra-smelly cheeses. You can serve the cheese with sliced apple (remove all the seeds first) and your pup will have a delicious and healthy treat.
Satisfying the dog’s sweet tooth can be done with cranberry sauce. Cranberries are filled with antioxidants and dogs love them a lot. The portions should be small and without added sugar. Blueberries can be a great treat for dogs, be it fresh, frozen or baked in a pie. They are filled with strong antioxidants, manganese, vitamins E and C.
Broccoli has anti-cancer properties and is a great source of important minerals (potassium, calcium, and phosphorus), fiber and beta-carotene. It’s a superfood for dogs because it boosts the immune system. Also, guess what? It’s perfectly safe for pups. Broccoli can be served along with green beans. You can give them plain, chopped, canned, raw or steamed. Keep the portions small and the size of the beans not too big to avoid choking hazards. Another vegetable that is healthy for dogs, is the carrot. Carrots are rich in vitamins and fiber and because they are so crunchy, they will aid in maintaining your dog’s oral health by scraping off plaque. Dogs with strong teeth can eat raw carrots, while those that have fewer teeth can be fed with cooked carrots.
Foods you shouldn’t give
Cookies are something people first think of when we mention the holiday season. Those than contain spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg, shouldn’t be given to dogs no matter how enticing they smell to them. Large quantities of nutmeg can cause high blood pressure, confusion, hallucinations, and seizures, while cinnamon can provoke digestive issues in the form of abdominal spasms and internal ulcers.
Any cookies or other foods containing chocolate can quickly disturb the dog’s health which will only mean taking a trip to the veterinary ER. The symptoms of intoxication with chocolate can vary depending on the ingested quantity. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine. Both substances can increase the pup’s heart rate and overstimulate the nervous system. General symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting, tremors, increased urination, restlessness, collapse, and sudden death.
Grapes, raisins, and wine are well-known enemies of dogs. Small amounts can damage the dog’s kidneys. You may not know when the stuffing, salads and casserole-type dishes contain raisins, so double check before you give them to your dog.
Many baked goods, especially those bought in sugar-free groceries contain the artificial sweetener xylitol. Even the smallest amounts of xylitol can alter the dog’s blood sugar significantly and put him in a life or death situation. Be sure to check the labeling before you give baked products to your dog. If you ever spot ‘containing sugar alcohol’ on them, that means a ‘no-no’.
Anything containing onions, garlic or chives is moderately dangerous for dogs. Dogs that consumed large quantities of the former can suffer from digestive problems (with signs of diarrhea and vomiting) and anemia. An anemic dog is lethargic, eats too little or refuses to eat and has pale gums.
Small quantities of bacon or ham might be considered safe for dogs, but excess feeding can cause acute pancreatitis in dogs. If left untreated, pancreatitis can be lethal for the furball. So just in case, avoid giving these meats to your dog.
At last, remember to tell everyone in the house what is safe to give dogs and what isn’t. Get familiar with the common symptoms of intoxication and don’t give your dog too big portions of anything. In case of digestive upset, always keep canned pumpkin. That will soothe the dog’s tummy fast.
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