Holiday Foods You Can Share with Your Dog or Cat

What’s Safe and What to Avoid This Holiday Season

Healthy Dogs |  November 2, 2022

A well-made food and plenty of variety are all your dog or cat needs to be happy this holiday season. However, many pet owners want to share the season’s bounty with their pets by giving them a taste of people food over the holidays. Done right, this tradition can be a fun way to make the holidays special. But the wrong foods or the wrong amount of food can cause gastric upset or even a trip to the vet. So, if you want to offer some people food to your pet, keep a mental list of safe foods to share.

Before the Holidays Start

If your cat or dog has a sensitive stomach, you might want to consider planning a holiday meal just for them. From gently cooked to wet food, plenty of our partners manufacture high-quality holiday-themed foods that are balanced with the right amount of seasoning, fat and protein to appeal to your pet.

But if you’d still like to give your pet a few bites of holiday food from your own festivities, consider using a digestive supplement. These supplements can reduce the chance that a change in diet (even an unintentional one from counter surfing) will cause an upset stomach. Some digestive supplements can be added to food to reduce the risk of an upset stomach later, while others can help diminish the symptoms of digestive upset if they occur. Pets with sensitive stomachs or who might eat a lot of special foods over the holidays can benefit from daily supplementation during the holiday season.

 

Digestive Supplements

Here are a few digestive supplements we like:

InClover Optagest

inClover OptaGest Dog and Cat Digestion Supplement

Add OptaGest to food before offering it to your pet. This supplement makes food easier to digest while feeding the healthy bacteria in your dog or cat’s gut. Many pet owners add this supplement to all foods as an overall health aid.

Colon Rescue

Animal Essentials Colon Rescue Herbal GI Support for Dogs and Cats

This supplement can soothe an upset stomach after eating. With regular use, it may help your dog or cat’s sensitivity to diet changes. Also try: The Honest Kitchen Perfect Form Herbal Digestive Dog or Cat Supplement.

Organic Pumpkin Supplement

Nummy Tum-Tum Pure Organic Pumpkin Canned Dog or Cat Food Supplement

Organic pumpkin is a good source of fiber to keep bowel movements regular. It can also be a great holiday treat for pets who love it. Other fiber supplements to try: Nummy Tum-Tum Pure Organic Sweet Potato Canned Dog or Cat Food Supplement or Herbsmith Scooter’s Butt Bars or Diggin’ Your Dog Firm Up! Pumpkin Super Dog or Cat Supplement.

Herbsmith Microflora Plus

Herbsmith Microflora Plus for Digestion Capsules Daily Dog and Cat Supplement

We like this supplement because it includes prebiotics, probiotics, digestive enzymes and soothing herbs. Plan on using this supplement the entire holiday season for best results. Other probiotic supplements to try: Animal Essentials Plant Enzyme and Probiotics Dog and Cat Supplement and Ark Naturals Gentle Digest Dog Cat Soft Chews.

Making the Holidays Fun with Tasty People Food

While this isn’t an exhaustive list of the foods you can share with your pet (or those you should avoid!), here are some options to consider. Whatever you share, please make sure it’s 10 percent or less of your dog or cat’s total meal and you reduce their regular food accordingly. That way, your dog or cat can enjoy the holidays without the risk of an overfull stomach.

cooked chicken breast

Share: Unseasoned Lean Meats

Turkey, chicken, fish and other cooked lean, unseasoned and bone-free meats are a good choice for dogs or cats. Remove visible fat and skin before you offer a taste to your pet, and skip any fatty meats or bone-in cuts.

 

Raw carrotsShare: Raw Vegetables

Raw baby carrots, green beans, and other vegetables can be a fun, healthy treat for your pet. While cats tend to avoid eating raw vegetables, we know tons of dogs who love them. Cooked vegetables are fine, too, as long as they’re not seasoned with oil, butter, salts or other dried seasonings.

raw eggs in bowl

Share: Plain Eggs (Cooked or Raw)

Cooked eggs that use a small amount of fat (or none at all) are a great food for dogs or cats. Your dog or cat can also safely eat raw eggs if they are otherwise healthy.

 

Raw Turkey Neck

Share: Raw Large Beef Bones or Turkey Necks

Large uncooked beef bones or uncooked turkey necks, shared in limited amounts, can be a satisfying treat for your dog or cat. Cooked bones, smoked bones, pork bones or other types of raw bones you purchase at your local grocery store should never be fed to your dog or cat because they represent a significant health hazard. If you’re unclear about what bones are safe to eat, look at the selection at a trusted pet store to ensure you’re choosing something safe.

bone broth

Share: Low Sodium Canned or Homemade Broth

Low sodium or unsalted broth, especially the homemade kind that’s made without garlic or onions, can be a healthy treat that adds additional moisture to your dog or cat’s meal. You can even safely freeze leftovers in ice cube trays to be defrosted for later. Be sure to skip the gravy and pan drippings, which can be too fatty and rich for your dog or cat’s digestive system.

bowl of applesShare: Blueberries, Strawberries, Apple, Pineapple, Banana and Blackberries

Sweet treats may be the cornerstone of many holiday gatherings, but to treat your dog or cat, stick with naturally sweet fruit. The six suggested fruits are only a few that your pet might enjoy, but be sure to avoid grapes, cherries, and apple seeds (which are toxic) and fruit with pits that may create a choking hazard. Check online to verify that the fruit you’d like to offer your dog or cat is safe.

 

Unsafe Foods Your Dog or Cat Should Avoid

 

If you’re unsure if a food is safe for your dog or cat, look on a trusted website to verify before you share a portion of that food. Keep in mind that fatty meats, pan drippings and other rich, salty, or highly seasoned foods can trigger significant gastric upset or even pancreatitis in your dog or cat, even though they’re carnivores. Cooked bones and small bones can splinter and become a choking hazard or perforate your dog or cat’s digestive system. And plenty of sweets, especially low sugar desserts, can contain ingredients safe for humans, but toxic to pets. So play it safe by doing your research, and you can ensure a happy holiday for all the members of your household.

🌞 🎆 🎉 Summer brings celebrations, late nights, travel and events that can leave your pets feeling uneasy.
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Mud Bay is here to help, offering products that bring calm and comfort to your cat or dog when things get noisy.
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🌞 🎆 🎉 Summer brings celebrations, late nights, travel and events that can leave your pets feeling uneasy. 🐈 🐕 Mud Bay is here to help, offering products that bring calm and comfort to your cat or dog when things get noisy. 🐈 🐕 We carry calming collars, tinctures, treats, and pheromones to help your pets handle everything summer brings—Shop Mud Bay in-store or online to find the right calmatives for your pets. #mudbay #summer #keepcalm #healthypets #calming

Fluff & Tuff`s #IGIVEAFLUFF is Coming Soon!
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Starting June 8th, National Best Friends Day, our friends at Fluff & Tuff are once again kicking off #IGiveAFluff to help put toys in the paws of shelter and rescue dogs who need them most.
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And we want you to be a part of it, and it couldn`t be easier to participate!
Here`s how it works:
📸 Snap a photo of your dog with their favorite Fluff & Tuff toy.
📱 Share it on social media using #IGiveAFluff.
🐾 Fluff & Tuff donates a toy to a shelter or rescue dog.
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Since 2015, with the support of pet parents like you and the generosity of Fluff & Tuff, over 22,000 toys have been donated to shelters and rescue dogs. Want to participate, but you need a Fluff & Tuff toy? Take a tip from Frank and stop by your local Mud Bay or visit us online. Click the link in our bio to learn more about #IGIVEAFLUFF

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Fluff & Tuff's #IGIVEAFLUFF is Coming Soon! 🐾 Starting June 8th, National Best Friends Day, our friends at Fluff & Tuff are once again kicking off #IGiveAFluff to help put toys in the paws of shelter and rescue dogs who need them most. 🐾 And we want you to be a part of it, and it couldn't be easier to participate! Here's how it works: 📸 Snap a photo of your dog with their favorite Fluff & Tuff toy. 📱 Share it on social media using #IGiveAFluff. 🐾 Fluff & Tuff donates a toy to a shelter or rescue dog. 🐾 Since 2015, with the support of pet parents like you and the generosity of Fluff & Tuff, over 22,000 toys have been donated to shelters and rescue dogs. Want to participate, but you need a Fluff & Tuff toy? Take a tip from Frank and stop by your local Mud Bay or visit us online. Click the link in our bio to learn more about #IGIVEAFLUFF

Summer is coming, so be like Goose 🐕 and stay cool 😎 ❄️ on every outing with the Swamp Cooler Harness from Ruffwear.
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Summer is coming, so be like Goose 🐕 and stay cool 😎 ❄️ on every outing with the Swamp Cooler Harness from Ruffwear. 🧊 Whether she’s out on a trail or enjoying a long walk or run, this harness is built for warm-weather adventures, offering cooling comfort and secure control in one breathable design. 🌞 Shop in-store or online at Mud Bay. #mudbay #adventures #pnw #dog #summeriscoming

Mud Bay Memorial Day Hours ⏰
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Today, Monday, May 25, all Mud Bay locations will be open from 10 am to 6 pm.
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Delivery orders placed after 2 pm on Sunday will arrive on Tuesday. Store pickup and Instacart will still be available. 🐈 🐕 🚚
#mudbay #holidayhours #healthypets #mudbaydelivery #pets

View Instagram post by mudbay
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Mud Bay Memorial Day Hours ⏰ 🐈 🐕 Today, Monday, May 25, all Mud Bay locations will be open from 10 am to 6 pm. 🐈 🐕 Delivery orders placed after 2 pm on Sunday will arrive on Tuesday. Store pickup and Instacart will still be available. 🐈 🐕 🚚 #mudbay #holidayhours #healthypets #mudbaydelivery #pets