-- Gobble Gobble - Talkin' Turkey. Giving your pet a small nibble of turkey is OK — just make sure that it's boneless and fully cooked. Raw or undercooked turkey can contain salmonella bacteria, and dogs can choke on bones, which splinter easily. Neither of these will make for happy holidays.
-- A Feast Fit for a Kong. While the humans are chowing down, consider giving your cat and dog their own little feast. Stuff bits of turkey, dribbles of gravy or vegetables such as sweet potatoes and green beans — inside a Kong toy (if you do not have one they can be purchased at your local super store for around $5.00). They'll be happily occupied for hours trying to get their meal out, and way too busy to come begging for table scraps.
-- Sage Advice. This herb makes stuffing taste great, but sage also contains some essential oils and resins that can cause pets to suffer an upset stomach and has also been known to cause depression of the central nervous system, either way its not worth the risk, so find other treats you can share.
-- Bread Dough. According to veterinarians at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), when bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in the stomach. As alcohol is produced during the rising process, the dough expands. Pets who've eaten bread dough may experience abdominal pain, bloat, vomiting, disorientation and depression. All of these are bad, so please refrain from sharing bread dough with your pets.
If you are concerned about food that your pet has indigested, you may call the APCC emergency hot line 24 hours a day at (888) 426-4435.
