Holiday Pet Food Safety

Pet lovers want to share the joy of the season with everyone, including their furry friends. It's tempting to feed treats to your pets from the meals that you prepare. Sometimes that's perfectly fine, but there are some foods that cats and dogs shouldn't have. Pet food safety experts say some human foods are unhealthy for pets, and some plant foods are actually dangerous for them to eat. (Read: Landscaping: Toxic to Pets?)

Before you offer Fido or Fifi a spoonful of your favorite casserole or dessert, check out what Pet MD has to say. Generally speaking, all meats should be cooked, and so should most vegetables. Watch out for seasonings, though, as animals don't need extra salt, pepper or sugar. And if dishes contain any food on the unsafe list, it's best to offer your pets something different.

Here are some of the most common human foods that are safe for cats and dogs, and some that they shouldn't eat. Consider where to leave holiday foods out for guests, as nuts, particularly macadamia nuts, are toxic to pets

Holiday Tips for Cats & Pet Food Safety

Anyone with cats will tell you, they’re a lot different than dogs. Where dogs need a certain amount of vegetables in their diet, cats are carnivores — they need a diet that’s rich in meat. The meat you serve for holiday meals might be a great treat for your cats. Cats love small tidbits of nearly any beef, fowl, or pork as much as you do. But you’ll want to be aware of what’s cooked with it.

If you season with onions or garlic, you’re better off reserving the meat for people to eat and giving Fluffy something different. Both onions and garlic are dangerous for cats, even when they’re fully cooked. Here’s a list of safe foods for your cat, and some that shouldn’t make their way into Fluffy’s bowl:

Safe for Cats

• Cooked, unseasoned beef, poultry, and other meats
• Watermelon
• Sweet potato
• Catnip
• Carrots
• Green beans
• Cheese
• Steamed broccoli

Unsafe for Cats

• Uncooked beef, poultry, or other meats
• Grapes
• Garlic
• Onions
• Tomatoes
• Raw egg
• Fat from meats
• Fruit with pits
• Sugary treats such as pies and cakes
• Milk

Remember that although cats have efficient teeth, their mouths are very small. So for pet food safety, always cut human foods into very tiny pieces before offering them to cats as snacks. And although cats can eat, and sometimes really enjoy, some fruits and vegetables, keep those portions small.

Holiday Pet Food Safety for Dogs

Some dogs can seem like canine garbage disposals. If it’s on a human’s plate, some dogs will eat whatever it is. But just because Fido wants everything you’re having, that doesn’t mean he should get it. Some human foods are great for dogs. But some should stay on your plate and out of the dog dish. 

Like cats, most meats are perfectly great dog treats. But the same risks that apply to cats also apply to dogs. Meats should be cooked first. But if you cooked the meat with onions or garlic, that makes it a no-no for your furry friend. His body just can’t process it, and some experts say garlic and onions can be toxic to dogs.

Safe for dogs

• Cooked, unseasoned beef, poultry, and other meats
• Cooked rice
• Cooked green beans
• Cheese
• Apples
• Strawberries
• Frozen bananas
• Sweet potatoes
• Russet potatoes
• Squash

Unsafe for dogs

• Raw beef, poultry, or other meats
• Fruit with pits
• Garlic
• Onions
• Avocados
• Tomatoes
• Nuts
• Grapes or raisins
• Sugary treats such as pies and cakes

When in doubt, the safest approach is to stick with treats that are made for your dog or cat. You can even make them yourself using plain foods such as rice, unseasoned meats, and cooked vegetables (except for onions and garlic).

Always cut up food into small pieces, even for dogs with ravenous appetites. And never give any dog or cat cooked bones. They can splinter and become a choking hazard.

This holiday season, you can share the good stuff with your favorite cats and dogs while keeping them safe and healthy. (Read: Pets Provide Love All Year Long) Be aware of hidden seasonings, and stick to plain food as much as possible. Do you have any special holiday treats that you share with your pets? We'd love to hear about your recipes!