Beware of Holiday Goodies for your dog or cat

  The holidays mean lots of rich and fatty foods for most people. Who can resist ...... candy, cookies, fudge, egg nog, pumpkin pie, not to mention the home cooked meals and family togetherness? It's part of the spirit of the season. While we may not be able to resist the urge to overindulge ourselves, we can and should resist the urge to overindulge our pets. Let's face it, we all sneak a little table treat to our pets every now and then. It's hard to say no to those wanting eyes. And, the excited look on their little face when they realize they are getting a treat is priceless. But, tread lightly down this path!!

For one, animals have a very short span of contentment. Their contented state lasts long enough for them to swallow the last bite. Then, those wanting eyes are right back in your face, watching your every move... expecting... hoping... guilting ... If you head down this path, be prepared to deal with it every single time you sit down for dinner.

But, the annoyance of a begging animal is just a minor problem. The bigger problem is that table scraps can lead to indigestion, upset tummies, vomiting and diarrhea. Pets have a very sensitive system. Upsetting the balance of that system can cause them all kinds of health problems. Table scraps can also be high in fat and sugar, which can lead to weight problems, heart problems, and diabetes.

So, What are the Best Types of Treats? Treats that contain wholesome, natural ingredients are a great alternative for keeping your pets healthy and happy.  Consider treats that work to improve the overall health of your pets.  There are many out there that promote dental health, assist with achy joints, are high in antioxidants, or vitamin enriched. 

About the author:

Robin Perdue is a pet professional. More info at http://www.vippets.net For HealthyPetNet's Gourmet Dental Treats and Antioxidant Health Bars go to http://www.yourpetslife.com/articles/natural-pet-treats.htm

 Robin Perdue

More Articles 

Litter Box Strategies for Disabled Cats - Nancy E Wigal
. You may reprint this article, electronically in free-only publications in it's entirety in an Ezine, blog or web site. . You may not use this article for commercial purposes without our written consent. . You may not use this article in...

Train Your Cat to be Groomed - Tony Robinson
Grooming for a cat should be done on a daily basis for proper care of your cat. In addition, with the proper care, your cat will stay healthy. Brushing, combing, clipping nails, and cleaning ears, are grooming that needs to be done. By doing...

"Make Your Home Cat-Safe - How To Keep Your Cat Happy and Healthy" - NS Kennedy
* Lock things up that could cause harm * Keep the washer/dryer door closed at all times * Honk the car horn before starting it up * Use fire carefully * Keep all upstairs windows closed or screened * Store string away tidily * Keep floors...

Christmas Gifts For Cats And Lovers - Roy Thomsitt
The act of offering Christmas gifts is always enhanced if you take some trouble in matching the gift with the recipient. Sometimes, though, it is not as easy as it may seem, especially if the gift is for someone you have not seen very often...

Prevent Feline UTI With a Canned Cat Food Diet (Part II) - Nancy E Wigal
Last week I wrote about the benefits of transitioning your cat to a raw food diet to stop feline urinary tract infections. As I also noted, some cats just won't eat raw food. Part II gives you information about the more common diet alternative -...

How to Train Your Cat on a Leash - Tony Robinson
Is it possible to train a cat to walk with you? Yes it is and not hard to do. Patience, practice, time, and you will be walking with your cat soon. The best time to start to train a cat to walk with a leash is when it is a kitten. When a...

How To Stop Your Cat Spraying - Marc de Jong
The cat backs up to the door, lifts the tail and releases a fine spray of urine. Yes, your cat is spraying. You have a problem. But one you can solve. Figures from the British Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors say that aggression in dogs and...

How To Be A Responsible Cat Owner - Peter Garant
Now that you have a cat or several cats in the house, you need to think about how you can be a responsible cat owner and provide for the needs of your cats. This means that you have to think about the cats’ living conditions, feeding, grooming,...

Wisconsin Cat Hunt - Steve Sommers
A friend of mine in Minnesota asked me recently about the feral cat hunting proposal in Wisconsin and whether feral cats were such a problem here that we needed a special law about it. Feral cats are not 'wild cats', per se, but rather house cats...

Your Cat or Kitten Will Love You More, When You Follow this Guide to Feline Feeding - Niall Kennedy
You can take the easy option and throw some discount cat feed into a bowl for your feline friend, but will she remain your friend for long if you don't give a bit more thought into what you feed her? Here is some advice that will have her...