Do’s & Don’ts for Feeding Your Dog Holiday Treats

Let’s face it: the holiday season is an especially tempting time to treat our pups to something special– and I feel that urge, too!

I’d like to start by saying that there’s a difference between treating our best friend to table scraps and mindfully choosing human-grade food to give them. I personally love treating my pack to human food– like sharing bananas with Maddie, who absolutely loves them. She’ll even go into the kitchen to wait by the counter to ask for one. However, it’s so important as pet parents that we’re mindful about what we’re choosing to feed our fur babies.

So, let’s talk about some food from the holiday table you should avoid feeding your dog and what I’d suggest instead:

1. Let’s start with the star of holiday dinners– meat, like turkey and ham!

While these are the things your dog will probably be drooling about all day, they’re not safe to feed them. Your dog shouldn’t have the same meat you’d serve a human for any holiday dinner. To start, the skin and bones are dangerous for them to eat– but did you know the seasoning also isn’t good for them? Instead, you can serve them a small piece of boneless, skinless, and unseasoned white turkey meat.

2. Moving on to some popular side dishes, let’s discuss how you can spare some of the ingredients for your pup.

No, your dog shouldn’t be eating greenbean casserole, stuffing, gravy, or most other classic side dishes. That’s because various common ingredients like onions, garlic, chives, and turkey drippings are toxic and can be life-threatening to our pups.

HOWEVER, there are ingredients in these dishes your dogs can happily enjoy. Unseasoned green beans, plain, cooked, and unseasoned mashes potatoes or sweet potatoes, and unseasoned, cooked butternut squash are all treats your dog can enjoy in moderation.

3. Now, for dessert. It’s common knowledge your dog can’t have chocolate– but your dog also shouldn’t be given other common desserts!

Wouldn’t it be great if we could hand our dogs a slice of pie? I can imagine they’d just love that. However, it’s an awful idea for their health. Ingredients like nutmeg, sugar, fat, and certain artificial sweeteners like xylitol are also toxic and potentially harmful to our fur babies.

Instead, you can give them treats like seedless apple slices, plain cranberries, or pumpkin puree.

Keep in mind that while these treats are nontoxic, they can still cause upset stomachs or be harmful in excess.

Any change to your dog’s diet can cause an upset stomach and diarrhea, so be careful! I’d suggest only making small changes to what they’re eating, if you’re treating them to something special. A few spoonfuls of something special along with their normal meals should be enough to give your dog a taste of the holiday without making them feel sick.

You should also remember to tell your guests not to share their table scraps with your dog.

Every pet parent has their own rules and comfort levels when it comes to their dogs. It’s only natural! That’s why I recommend that you ask your guests NOT to feed your pup any table scraps while they’re visiting. Even if they have good intentions, you should be in control of what your dog is eating– both to avoid toxic foods and to control their intake of any extra human food.

If there are any troubling signs that your dog has eaten something they shouldn’t have, it’s time to see the vet.

Whether or not you meant for your dog to eat something off the table, it’s important to watch for the signs. With so much food and so many people around, it may be difficult to tell if your dog tastes something they shouldn’t! There’s a wide range of symptoms you can watch for, including things like: vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, seizures, tremors, excessive drooling, panting, coughing, and ever.

Over all, it’s important to watch your fur baby for any signs of issues, and to rely on your vet if you’re worried.

How to Introduce Your Dog to New People

Starting with some basics, it’s best if new people refrain from being loud, instead approaching the situation in a quiet, relaxed manner. You’ll also want to tell them to avoid making sudden motions, and preferably, every meeting should be done with you present to watch.

Your dog may want to sniff first– and that’s totally normal. Tell your guest to offer your dog the back of their hand to sniff. If your pup seems content with that, then your guest can move to touch their chest. Tell them to avoid grabbing their heads or getting too close immediately, like for a hug. This can be a lot for a dog to handle right away! I always recommend going to pet their chest first, and if your dog seems happy, then go to pet their ears.

And again, dog parents, you know what your dog likes or doesn’t like, so make sure you stay close to help your relatives and friends navigate the interaction easily.

We hope you enjoyed this segment from Frankie’s podcast, Wag, Wander, Repeat. It’s a place where she shares all of her best tips, tricks, and more!

To learn more, check out her episode about this topic here: