It’s almost Thanksgiving…which will be closely followed by Christmas (or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, depending on what you celebrate).This usually is a time for family gatherings, football, and all that YUMMY food!!

Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, Christmas cookies…MMM MMM!! Of course, there’s that adorable little furry face with the pleading look in his eye that you have SUCH a hard time resisting!! But it’s not a good idea to give in and let your CBF (canine best friend) indulge in all the wonderful goodies. Here’s why:

1. Most of the foods that we enjoy during the holiday season are not things that your dog is used to eating. In fact, some of them are things your dog should not be eating at any time, such as foods containing onions or raisins (two common ingredients in stuffing). Both onions and raisins (or grapes) contain compounds that can make your dog seriously ill.

2. Many holiday dishes are high in fat (so they’re not really good for us humans either). At best, your dog can get a nasty case of indigestion, which could lead to some pretty stinky flatulence (and discomfort for your poor pup). At worst, your dog could suffer from pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas. This organ is responsible for secreting enzymes to help digest food. A high-fat meal fed to a dog who normally eats a low- to normal-fat diet can increase the chance of pancreatitis. The symptoms of pancreatitis are repeated vomiting, loss of appetite, and lack of movement due to abdominal discomfort (your dog doesn’t want to get up). The inflammation is caused by the pancreatic enzymes being released too soon in the digestive process; these enzymes can actually begin to digest the pancreas itself and the inflammation can spread into the surrounding organs. If your dog displays these symptoms after eating a high-fat meal, you’ll need to take him to the veterinarian. (Try doing THAT on Thanksgiving or Christmas and see what your bill is!!) A note: even though you may not like Great-aunt Edna’s annual holiday fruitcake, please don’t give any of it to your dog. Fruitcakes usually contain raisins (a non-no for dogs as previously stated), and many of them have been soaked in rum. No booze for the dog!!

If you really want to treat your dog to something special at a holiday meal, try giving him a bit of PLAIN turkey (white meat, no skin or gravy) or a little bit of PLAIN sweet potato or squash with his regular food. Don’t give him any that has butter, brown sugar, marshmallows, or anything else added! Most dogs love sweet potatoes and squash and these veggies are actually very good for them because of the beta-carotene. You could also indulge your CBF by visiting a ‘doggie bakery’ and getting him a SMALLL special treat if you happen to have one in your community. Specialty stores like these create cute holiday-themed doggie treats that are safe and nutritious.

Your dog will thank you for keeping him safe and healthy this holiday season!!