Don’t Feed Your Pup Thanksgiving Scraps
By Carly Shaw Graham
Position: Staff Writer
Feeding a dog table scraps can negatively affect their health in a drastic manner. This Thanksgiving, think twice before giving a canine friend a plate.
Food from restaurants may contain ingredients that are dangerous for dogs to consume. Unfortunately, many customers are unaware of these potentially harmful ingredients.
“Chocolate, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, almonds, onions and garlic are all dangerous for dogs to eat,” according to pet writer Jean Marie Bauhaus. “If you don’t know exactly what’s in the restaurant leftovers you brought home, you could unknowingly hurt your begging pooch by feeding them a spoonful.”
Garlic is one of the most common ingredients in foods. Alliums—like garlic, onions and shallots—contain an element that may lead to anemia in dogs. Frequent exposure to unhealthy foods can lead to health problems like pancreatitis, a condition that can be fatal.
Anna Burke, a writer for the American Kennel Club, stated that “members of the allium family…contain thiosulfate, which is toxic to dogs but not to humans. Thiosulfate causes oxidative damage to red blood cells, resulting in hemolytic anemia.”
One of the most common Thanksgiving practices is to feed dog’s leftover turkey bones, which is also dangerous for dogs.
“The cooked bones in your turkey are more brittle and breakable, so the parts your dog chews could potentially splinter and puncture his digestive tract,” said veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, who writes for vetstreet.com.
Some families feed their dog table scraps on a regular basis. Taryn Super, a Lynn student, indicated her family often feeds their dog bones.
“My family used to feed my dog chicken bones all the time without ever stopping to think if it was healthy for him,” said Super. “We…always assumed that it was alright to eat meat straight from the bones because dogs are always shown eating bones on TV.”
With the regular portrayal of dogs eating bones in the media, some Lynn students do not think twice about feeding them to their four-legged companions.
“In my household growing up, we would always feed the dogs bones not knowing the repercussions,” said Antonia La Porta de Medeiros.
Feeding dogs from the table is never a good idea. Those foods are intended for human consumption and could be harmful for dogs.
Puppuccinos are safe in moderation, but should only be served as a rare treat. Photo/The Golden Club. An indigestible chicken drumstick bone lodged in a dog’s stomach. Photo/Animal Emergency Services. A dog begging for food because he has been served table scraps before and is now conditioned to expect it. Photo/Hills Pet Nutrition.
