Holiday Food Dangers: Keeping Pets Safe from Thanksgiving to New Year

The big offenders

Cooked bones splinter; fatty trimmings and skin trigger pancreatitis; onions, garlic and chives damage red blood cells; grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure; chocolate and anything with xylitol are outright toxic; and alcohol or raw yeast dough are emergencies.

Pancreatitis: the day-after illness

Every year, US emergency vets see a wave of vomiting, hunched, painful dogs the day after big holiday meals. Rich, fatty scraps are the usual cause. If your dog is repeatedly vomiting and won't eat, call the vet — pancreatitis can turn severe.

Guest-proof the house

Guests are the weak link: sweet grandparents and unattended plates. Give visitors one clear rule — nothing from the table — and give your pet a safe room with a stuffed Kong during the meal itself.

Safe treats instead

Plain cooked turkey meat (no skin, no bones), plain green beans, carrots or a spoon of plain pumpkin let your pet join the feast without a 2 a.m. trip to the emergency room.