Eat This, Not That: Houston SPCA Shares Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Pets
November 21 2023
Nearly every Thanksgiving meal can include several dishes that are toxic to pets. From generous relatives sneaking extra food to lots of tasty treats hiding in the trash can, it's a time where pets can quickly and easily to get sick.
To help keep your pets safe, Houston SPCA’s Chief Animal Welfare and Medical Officer Dr. Roberta Westbrook is sharing a list of some foods to keep away from your pets, plus tasty and safe foods to consider sharing with them this Thanksgiving.
Eat This
- Some unseasoned sweet potato or yams mixed with plain brown rice and broth
- Pureed pumpkin on a lick mat to enjoy
- A small amount of unseasoned, deboned turkey and brown rice
- Steamed green beans, carrots, broccoli, bell peppers and other simple vegetables
- Berries like strawberries and blueberries or sliced apples without the seeds, which are toxic to pets.
Not That
- Turkey bones: Cooked bones become softer and can easily splinter. If ingested, it can penetrate internal organs causing internal bleeding or become an obstruction in the gastrointestinal system.
- Onions, leaks, and garlic: These savory ingredients are very toxic to pets and impact red blood cells which can affect your pet’s ability to breathe.
- Salads and sides with raisins or grapes: Grapes, raisins, and currants have been known to be quite toxic to dogs with symptoms like vomiting, lethargy and tremors.
- Chocolate: Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine which cause diarrhea and vomiting, changes in blood pressure and agitation.
- Well-seasoned food containing butter, fat and oil as well as desserts with lots of sugar and nuts.
If you think your pet may have ingested something toxic, always play it safe and get them to your veterinarian to be examined.
Thinking about adding a furry friend to your family? Visit houstonspca.org/adoption to see pets available for adoption at the Houston SPCA!
By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 
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Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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