What to feed your pet over the holidays

(KBSI) – Keep your pets safe this holiday season!

For many, pets are included as part of the family.

Sikeston Bootheel Animal Clinic explains what you can safely feed your pet during the holiday season.

Loni Patke is a Veterinarian for Bootheel Animal Clinic. She says vegetables like celery, carrots, and green beans, unseasoned are all ok to give your pet. She lists foods that aren’t good for your pet.

“Stuffing because of the unions and garlic, that can really be toxic to our pets both cats and dogs. We want to avoid turkey bones, those can really irritate the lining of their intestinal tract and cause obstructions. Ham is another big one, just the fat content of that, mashed potatoes of course they have a lot of butter in them. If they didn’t have the butter it could be ok.” 

Patke says desserts are usually a no go, chocolate and anything sugar free is considered toxic for pets. If they do get ahold of a food they shouldn’t have, they’ll have some symptoms to look out for.

Something as simple as a behavior change, they didn’t come to greet you at the door. They also worry about anything like vomiting and diarrhea which would be common symptoms of an upset stomach.” 

Sugar free deserts and chocolate are extremely toxic to animals because they contain an ingredient called xylitol but deer meat, unseasoned turkey breast, and lean unseasoned vegetables are all ok to share with your four-legged friend.  

Its important to remember to keep trash and food on counters out of your animals reach, and if they do eat something they shouldn’t you should call your vets office.