Foods to keep away from pets this Thanksgiving

PEORIA (25 News Now) - There may not be a dog, cat, or people-food-loving pet alive that won’t stare at the spread of turkey, ham, stuffing, and more while licking their chops.

But it turns out human treats, even ones that seem safe for canine and feline friends, may have negative impacts on their health in the long run.

ASCPA has an extensive list of foods to keep away from animals because of dangerous or poisonous content, including:

Alcohol
Coffee
Chocolate
Grapes and raisins
Milk and dairy
Nuts
Onions and chives
Raw meat, eggs, or bones

Tender Care Animal Hospital in Morton has its own list of suggested foods to keep dogs away from, including:

Ham
Garlic
Raw potatoes
Mashed potatoes
Canned cranberries
Pie filling
Stuffing

Some of those items might include foods that dogs have gotten a bite of before, like ham. Veterinarian Dr. Candace Whittington of Tender Care said those foods may not cause an intense, immediate reaction from your pet, but can lead to worse health in the long term.

“A lot of pet owners show their love through food,” Whittington said. “I mean, we all want to give them a little taste of what we’re eating because it’s so good, but we want to think about how we’re protecting our animals making sure we’re keeping them away from foods that are going to be actually disasterous for their health.”

Pancreatitis is one of the biggest risks for dogs when eating human food. The high fat, sugar, salt, and oil content of some foods can lead to upset stomachs days later.

There are alternatives for curious pets. Whittington suggests the following Thanksgiving treats: