No, Your Dog Really Doesn’t Want A Sip Of Your Beer

Yesterday we discussed foods to watch out for when feeding your cats treats. Now let's take a look at what's on the "no list" and the "go list" when it comes to "man's best friend."

OK, I get it. During the holiday season, we're all feeling festive, having a craft beer or some spiked Christmas punch and creating aromas in our kitchens that rival a Gordon Ramsey restaurant--not to mention Grandma's unrivaled chocolate cake baking in the oven. Inevitably, our canine friends wander in, give a sniff, and begin to look at us with those *literal* sad puppy dog eyes--and we cave. #beentheredonethat

It's quite evident that dogs love people food and it is one of life's little joys to watch Barney the hound dog happily gobble up the tasty bits we throw their way. Dogs do have a relatively large range of foods they may safely eat--they are much more omnivorous by nature.

For example, dogs can safely enjoy white rice, many fruits and veggies (although no grapes or raisins,) cooked eggs and lean meats. However, it is still wise to use a bit of caution. Some of the most seemingly harmless foods can cause our furry friends some difficulty.

One of the most common misconceptions is that it's okay to give your dog the bones from dinner. Seems intuitive, right? According to the ASPCA, bones are NOT safe for your dog. They may gnaw on them in the wild, but you don't want to risk the bone splintering and lodging in your furry friend's throat or puncturing their digestive system. :(

What about raw meat? Seems natural enough, right? Both raw meat and eggs could contain salmonella or e.coli. You definitely don't want your dog to suffer through an ordeal like that.

OK, and what about that lovingly-crafted beer you are enjoying? Surely it's no big deal to give your best friend a sip. I mean, it's Christmas, right? Wrong. Alcohol poses major threats to dogs, ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to high blood acidity, difficulty breathing, coma, and possibly death. Save the craft beer for your human friends and if you want to give your dog a special drink, filter some pure water for him and follow it up with a nice head rub.

And that's just a few of them. Check out an entire list from The Canine Journal of unsafe AND safe foods to feed to your dogs here. If in doubt about any particular food, ask your vet. If you fear you dog may have eaten something toxic to him or her, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season to you and your canine companions. <3