Dear Dr. Marc,

My family adopted our first dog this year and he instantly stole our hearts. We do love to spoil him with pet-friendly human food sometimes. Since the holidays are coming up, what kind of festive food is safe for him to eat and what should we avoid?

Daniel M.

Hi Daniel,

There are a lot of human foods that are safe to give to your dog, but keep in mind that treats should only make up about 10% of a dog’s diet. The other 90% should be from a complete and balanced dog food.

Some popular holiday foods that are safe for dogs include:

• Turkey and chicken (cooked and unseasoned)
• Green beans
• Carrots
• White potatoes and sweet potatoes
• Cranberries and blueberries
• Pumpkin — but be careful not to give pumpkin pie mix due to the added sugar and spices

While all of the above foods are safe for your dog to eat, remember to only give in moderation. Introducing too many new foods in a short period of time can upset your dog’s stomach. It is always important to read ingredient labels for all foods prior to giving them to your dog.

Human foods that dogs should avoid are:

• Ham
• Onions
• Garlic
• Macadamia nuts
• Almonds
• Chocolate and other sweets ‒ especially avoid the artificial sweetener xylitol, which is toxic to dogs
• Grapes and raisins
• Chicken, turkey and beef bones

Stay safe and enjoy the holidays.

Marc Siegel, DVM

Have questions for Dr. Marc? Send an email to info@isthmusvetcare.com.