11/17/2025
Kibbles & Bits
by Kristen OhlundBender
Hi everyone. Welcome to the beginning of the holiday season. May yours be filled with joy, laughter and love. Not to mention lots of good food. That’s what we are going to talk about this week. Food that we love but should not give our pets.
There are often ingredients in our holiday recipes that are toxic to our animals. While dogs are more likely to get sick, cats are also at risk.
The top of my list is always Chocolate. I have a deep love of chocolate (I consider it Vitamin C). Most of my friends are aware of this and gift me with some of my favorites. I have 6 dogs that love chocolate too. I have to be very careful of where I store my bounty for they will seek it out.
Another danger found in many holiday dishes are onions, chives, scallions and garlic as well as their cousins (eg. Leeks, shallots, etc). While we can’t imagine cooking without them, scraps containing these items should never be fed to our animals. These foods affect the animals red blood cells and can cause anemia. Symptoms include pale gums, fatigue, and panting to name a few.
Most of us know that grapes are toxic for dogs. Since raisins are merely dried grapes by association they are also toxic. A frequent ingredient in holiday cakes and cookies giving the dog a cookie or two can cause kidney failure leading to expensive vet bills and even death.
Giving the dog a beer is neither cute nor funny. Dogs process alcohol differently from humans and are prone to dangerous intoxication from very little alcohol. Like humans high levels of blood alcohol ln animals leads to increased risk of injury, poor judgement and foolish choices. I went to a frat party many moons ago where a Rottweiler that was the house mascot was being fed beer by the attendees. My warnings of the dangers went unheeded. I got meatballs from the buffet and enticed the dog into my car. (yes Sheriff, I kidnapped the dog- Hopefully the statute of limitations has expired). He spent the rest of his life with a friend who considered him part of the family.
Fake sugars are also poisonous to dogs. Frequently used in diabetic candy and baked goods it is the ingredient Xylitol that can cause a rapid decrease in blood sugar and liver failure. The effect is rapid and frequently fatal.
Many believe that giving the dog a bone is acceptable. This is not the case in regards to both ham and turkey the two most commonly served during the holiday season. These bones can splinter and the shards cause choking, intestinal blockages and gastrointestinal perforation. All medical emergencies with the last two frequently requiring surgery.
There are spices we use in our cooking and may not think about if sharing leftovers with our pets. The top of the list are cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice. On the savory side, the most common are bay leaf, cayenne pepper and marjoram. The effects of these spices vary. Most commonly your pet will experience gastrointestinal issues (some severe) and/or seizures.
The best way to avoid poisoning your pet is to give them their own holiday meal. Try a plain pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling), turkey breast without skin, bones or seasoning, small portion of plain vegetables like green beans or carrots. A cat may prefer a little tuna water or some plain chicken.
Should your pet become exposed to any of the above, you can contact the ASPCA Poison Control at 888-426-4435. They are open 24/7, 365 days a year.
Santa will be at Tractor Supply in Parsons on December 13th from 10am til 2pm for pictures with you and your pet. There will be no charge and the pictures will be taken with your phone. If you (like my husband) owns a phone that does not take pictures, we will take them and email them to you.
December 2nd is the annual Day of Giving. Please remember us at this time. Donations can be made on our page, Decatur County Bank branches and by mail at P.O.Box 233, Decaturville, 38329
if you are interested in volunteering, we always have a need for staffing at various events. Of course, we are always looking for fosters. The more fosters we recruit, the more animals we can save.
Always be kind to yourself, to others and to the animals. Until next time, peace and love. Thank you for your support.
