The holiday season is officially upon us. For many people, that means relaxing our diets a bit, and enjoying some special treats. Our canine buddies are definitely onboard with that! Of course, no matter what time of year it is, it’s important for you to offer your pooch safe, suitable snacks. A Fayetteville, NC vet offers some advice on this below.

People Foods

Fido has been a very good boy, so go ahead and make him a special plate. Plain, cooked meat, fish, or chicken is always a safe bet. Shredded deli meat is fine, too. Your pup can also have a little bit of bacon or sausage, or one or two meatballs or cocktail wieners. You don’t want to go overboard with these fatty meats, though … no matter how cute your furry pal’s begging skills are. Organ meats, such as liver and kidney, should also be limited. Dogs can also have certain fruits and veggies, such as banana, pureed pumpkin, peas, carrots, apple slices, or a little cooked egg.

Dangerous Foods

Whether you‘re cooking something special for Fido, or just letting him sample some table scraps, it’s important to know what foods are not safe for dogs. Some of these may surprise you. For instance, grapes and raisins, which are healthy for us, can cause life-threatening organ failure, even in small amounts. Other dangerous foods include chocolate, caffeine, garlic and onions, avocado, meat on the bone, fruits with seeds or pips, mushrooms, macadamia nuts, and anything that contains xylitol and/or a lot of salt, sugar, or fat.

Homemade Goodies

Do you enjoy cooking? If so, you can try your hand at making Fido something. There are plenty of options for homemade dog treats out there. Most of these start with some type of base. Some of the things you can use include pureed pumpkin, chopped meat, ripe bananas, whole wheat flour, wheat germ oil, liver powder, egg, olive oil, sodium-free broth, egg, and fat-free yogurt. You can also customize the treats by adding things like chopped or shredded meat, cheese, bacon bits, egg, and safe fruits or veggies. Using a cute bone-shaped mold is optional. However, this can come in handy, especially if you want to give some as gifts. Everyone here at Cross Creek Animal Hospital, your Fayetteville, NC animal clinic, wants to wish you a happy, healthy holiday. Call us anytime!