Some dogs enjoy the spoils of begging for food; they might even swipe something off a plate or the table when they think no one is watching. Yet these scraps aren’t always healthy for dogs and can create health issues over time.
Because of this, Dr. Katie Tolbert, a clinical associate professor in small animal and comparative gastroenterology at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, reminds pet owners to pay special attention to foods their furry friends eat, especially as pets may have easier access to human meals this holiday season.
For a healthy dog with no food sensitivities, lowfat and high-fiber foods like fruits (except grapes and raisins), vegetables, and skinless chicken breast can be given to dogs in small amounts. However, foods that are high in fat or larger pieces of food that may obstruct a smaller esophagus can present health and emergency concerns.
“A lot of the problems that we see over the holidays for dogs are due to foreign body ingestion, so things like giving dogs turkey bones or ham bones,” Tolbert shared.
Obstructions from bones can be deadly, so if an owner sees their dog struggling to swallow after sneaking a bone, it is better to visit your veterinarian as quickly as possible to help remove the foreign object.
Issues that are harder to resolve, however, come from consistently feeding dogs high-fat items, leading to obesity and, eventually, other diseases.
“Diseases like worsened airway disease and worsened heart disease are linked to having more fat in the body,” Tolbert said.
Pancreatitis, a disease that causes an inflamed pancreas, is a potential long-term effect of feeding dogs too many high-fat items. Pancreatitis symptoms include stomach pain, vomiting, dehydration, and shock. If your dog is experiencing these symptoms, head to the nearest clinic so a veterinarian can determine whether your dog has pancreatitis.
For pets to stay healthy and avoid diseases such as pancreatitis, pet food is carefully formulated to provide all of the nutrients your pet requires. Tolbert said homemade meals can provide dogs these nutrients as well if prepared correctly, with input from a board-certified nutritionist.
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