Dr. Amy Hoss:
Hi. I’m Dr. Amy, the medical director at Heaven at Home Pet Hospice.
Dr. Kim Barnes:
And I’m Dr. Kim. I’m one of the associates here at Heaven at Home, and this is Gilly, our star of the show.
Dr. Amy Hoss:
And just as a reminder, everything we’re talking about today is for educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for any medical advice that you can get from your veterinarian, who is familiar with any unique medical needs of your pet.
And a common question that we get as veterinarians is, are leftovers safe for my pet?
A good question to ask yourself is, does my pet have any food sensitivities or allergies? If that’s the case, then, of course, avoid that item.
Dr. Kim Barnes:
Another good question to ask yourself is, does my pet have any underlying diseases like pancreatitis or diabetes? In those cases, it’s best to avoid any new or unusual foods.
Dr. Amy Hoss:
Watch out for uncooked food and rising bread dough while you’re getting ready for the meal, bustling around the kitchen and entertaining your guests.
Dr. Kim Barnes:
And as the meal winds down, be mindful of any scraps that may contain bits of bone and also the extra bits of skin that could contain excessive fat. All of these could cause stomach upset or bigger problems.
Dr. Amy Hoss:
As a general rule, any foods that contain garlic or onion should be avoided. That could be your green bean casserole, your stuffing and any other side dishes.
Dr. Kim Barnes:
Other toxic foods that can sneak into your dishes are baker’s chocolate, dark chocolate, macadamia nuts, raisins, grapes, and sweeteners like xylitol.
Dr. Amy Hoss:
And as with all food safety, if it’s been in the refrigerator a little too long and you wouldn’t eat it yourself, it’s probably not safe to give to your pets, either.
Dr. Kim Barnes:
So we’ve talked about a lot of foods that our pets can’t eat. What are some things we can share with our furry friends?
We can give them green beans, potatoes, and other veggies. Those are always a great option.
A little bit of turkey, a little bit of ham, just for being mindful of keeping them sauce-free in case those sauces contain any of the foods that we’ve had that we spoke about before that are not safe.
And also maybe a little bit of that pie crust.
Dr. Amy Hoss:
So we’ve discussed some foods to avoid and some foods that are safe for your pets, but there’s a few other things that we should mention that come with the holidays.
So your guests may not be used to having inquisitive pets around. So make sure you avoid these items, drinks, edibles, and also gum.
So pets may like eggnog, but they should avoid it and other forms of drinks, so especially coffee and other forms of alcohol.
Also in Michigan, marijuana is legal, but be sure to keep any edibles or other forms of gum or sugar-free candy out of reach as those can contain xylitol, as we talked about earlier, that be very toxic to pets.
Dr. Kim Barnes:
Very true. So if your pets have been exposed to any of these things that we’ve talked about or you have any concerns, please reach out to your local emergency veterinary clinic or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control. We’ll list the number below.
Dr. Amy Hoss:
And for more great senior pet tips or any information on home euthanasia or aftercare, follow us on our webpage at pethospicevet.com or like us and follow us on social media.
Dr. Kim Barnes:
Thank you for joining us today.
Join Dr. Laurie Brush, founder of Heaven at Home Pet Hospice, on Saturday, March 22nd at 
Taking a vacation when you have a senior pet can be stressful for both you and your companion animal. Older dogs have unique needs due to age-related changes in their physical and emotional well-being. Conditions ranging from arthritis and diabetes to sensory issues like failing vision, hearing or cognitive function all need to be considered.