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Holiday Cuisine Causes Problems For Pets

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – As you celebrate and feast these upcoming holidays with loved ones and family; you may want to think twice about letting your furry friend enjoy the leftovers.

While you celebrate with turkey and all the trimmings you may be tempted to include your pet, however, some parts of the holiday feast could actually make your pets sick.

Experts say foods like turkey, onions, macadamia nuts, chocolate, raisins, garlic, grapes, the sugar substitute xylitol, and raw or undercooked food can create health problems for pets.

Sneaking a juicy turkey bone or a chicken bone under the dinner table is more harmful than you think. The bones could splinter, causing the intestines to be pierced.

Feeding pets uncooked or undercooked meat could be a potential cause of salmonella as well as pancreatitis.

You should also stay away from herbs and spices, like the sage used in stuffing, which can contain oil and resins that can cause pets to vomit or have diarrhea. Cats are particularly sensitive to spices.

It is best to keep your pets on their normal diets and tightly seal garbage bags, placing them in a tightly covered container to prevent your pets from getting into something that could injure them.

If you simply can't resist sharing, a little mashed potatoes, a bit of pumpkin pie, green beans, sweet potato, and a tiny bit of boneless cooked turkey are considered safe for your pets.

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