Overview
- Charities and clinics urge owners to keep chocolate, grapes and raisins, xylitol products, onions and garlic, alcohol and rich trimmings out of pets’ reach.
- Cooked poultry bones, food packaging and decorations such as tinsel, baubles, lights, snow globes and real tree needles or water can cause choking, blockages or poisoning.
- If ingestion is suspected or pets show pain, straining, blood in stool, lethargy or appetite loss, owners should contact a veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
- Safer sharing means tiny portions of plain cooked turkey and simple vegetables, with treats limited to about 10% of daily calories and regular diets maintained.
- Vets warn emergency care can cost thousands and advise securing leftovers promptly, reminding guests not to feed scraps and confirming local emergency vet hours and contacts.