Humand Food

Found this for you, hope it helps:

Table scraps are a Christmas no-no for pets.

Everyone loves large family meals during the festive season. Perhaps no one loves the celebration quite as much as pets, those members of your family who seize the opportunity for a feast of people food by using their cutest "can I have some?" face to solicit donations.

That's why No Scraps, a healthy pet educational program from Heallthy Bark & Purr pet insurance, is spreading the word to pet owners that scraps do much more harm than they might realize. At the website pet owners can find helpful information on the dangers of feeding their pets table scraps along with plenty of healthy alternatives to allow their pet to enjoy the Christmas culinary festivities.

Pet owners overall have nothing but the best interest of their pet at heart. But this seemingly loving gesture of sharing food can have profound consequences. "Pets often receive scraps from holiday meals because we want them to be part of our family," said Dr. Jeff Nichol, D.V.M., veterinarian and No Scraps spokesperson. "Unfortunately, human food can lead to a variety of health issues for your pet. These leftovers can lead to weight gain and more serious illnesses, and should not be part of his or her diet."

“Weight-gain, digestive disorders, diabetes, heart and liver problems, painful degenerative joint disease, and in some cases, breathing disorders, can occur if a pet is given table food, or too much of a good thing,” said Dr. Nichol. “That’s why it is best to completely leave out table scraps. My advice is to feed pets before the big holiday meal, then put them in another room while the family has dinner.” Mums and Dads who provide extra helpings to their pet can set a bad example for both the pet and the children of the household, said Dr. Nichol, who practices general and behaviour medicine of pets.

Here are some items in particular that you should definitely avoid:

* Chocolate, and other sweets and sugars
* Dairy products
* Small bones
* Fatty/greasy foods
* Undercooked meats
* Onions

"While it's important to know what not to feed your pet, there are things you can do to include them in your holiday celebrations," said Nichol. "There are cerrtain foods that in moderation you can give to your pet. Our web site www.noscraps.com has a list of foods you can give your pet along with some feeding tips."

Here are some tips from No Scraps to help you go scrap-less for the festive season.

Around Christmas, feed your pet before your company arrives or your own feasting begins.

Have your pets perform for a treat, your company might find that amusing, as well! Earned privileges remind them that all good things come from you. Give the treats in his or her doggy dish on the floor.

Try not to feed pets table scraps in the kitchen. They will think that’s where you want them begging for goodies and the begging will continue well beyond the festive season.

Pets need to understand their appropriate place in your home. When everyone sits down to eat, put your pets in another room.

When you have company, tell them that your pet has a special diet (a healthy one) and feeding your pet table scraps isn’t a part of the plan.

Information about No Scraps can be found at: www.noscraps.com

DANGEROUS "PEOPLE FOOD" - do not feed to your pets:

Some foods dogs should not eat and could be deadly

If your dog has ingested any of these foods, get veterinary help immediately
Grapes and Raisins: Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill a dog.
Onions: Onions destroy red blood cells and can cause anemia.
Chocolate: Chocolate can cause seizures, coma and death. Baker’s chocolate is the most dangerous. A dog can consume milk chocolate and appear to be fine because it is not as concentrated, but it is still dangerous.
Coffee, Coffee grounds, tea and tea bags: Drinks/foods containing caffeine cause many of the same symptoms chocolate causes
Macadamia Nuts: Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, muscle tremor and paralysis. Limit all other nuts as they are not good for dogs in general, their high phosporous content is said to possibly lead to bladder stones. Exception to this rule is PEANUTS and PEANUT BUTTER. However- always use Salt/Sugar free Peanut butter (sugar encourages cancer growth) free . Also USE ORGANIC peanut butter as regulary peanut butter has lots of toxics.
Animal fat and fried foods: Excessive fat can cause pancreatitis.
Bones: Bones can splinter and damage a dog’s internal organs.
Tomatoes: Tomatoes can cause tremors and heart arrhythmias. Tomato plants and the most toxic, but tomatoes themselves are also unsafe.
Avocados: The fruit, pit and plant are all toxic. They can cause difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation in the chest, abdomen and heart.
Nutmeg: Nutmeg can cause tremors, seizures and death
Apples, Cherries, Peaches and similar fruit: The seeds of these fruits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to dogs as well as humans. Unlike humans, dogs do not know to stop eating at the core/pit and easily ingest them. It can also become lodged in the intestines and kill the dog in 24 hours with no warning.
Raw eggs: Raw eggs can cause salmonella poisoning in dogs. Dogs have a shorter digestive tract than humans and are not as likely to suffer from food poisoning, but it is still possible.
Salt: Excessive salt intake can cause kidney problems.

Food that most dogs can eat:
Some “human” foods are good for dogs. Most of these are healthier than the boxed treats you buy in the grocery store. . This is just a small list of examples of foods dogs can eat, not a list of every food they should eat. Dogs won’t necessarily get all the nutrients they need if they eat these foods exclusively, so check with your veterinarian if you are interested in feeding your dog a home cooked diet.
Any food that causes stomach upsets or digestive problems in your dogs should be avoided. Like people, some dogs cannot tolerate certain foods

Meats:
Meats should be boneless and it’s best if the skin is removed. Raw meat a good idea because of the small risk of food poisoning and parasites.
Skinless, boneless chicken breast
Skinless, boneless turkey breast
Fish: do not feed TUNA as high mercury content - be careful of small bones.

Vegetables:
Dogs have shorter digestive tracts than humans and cannot digest most vegetables whole or in large chunks. It’s best to put them through a food processor before giving them to your dog- best veggies for your dog are:
Carrots (for healthy dogs) (not for cancer dogs though as high in sugar)
Green Beans
Lettuce
Yams

Grains:
Grains should not be given in large amounts or make up a large part of a dog’s diet, but these foods are generally safe in small amounts
Rice
Bread (not white breads or anything sugar or that converts to sugar) remember the simple rule feed no WHITE colored foods!

Dairy products
Use caution with dairy products as they are high in fat and can cause pancreatitis, gas and diarrhea. Usually, nonfat plain yogurt is safe in small amounts as is cottage cheese in small amounts.

When in doubt check the web before giving any food or just avoid it!

here is some more

TABLE FOOD

As you begin to dig into your food, your dog gives you the look. You know the one - where he stares mournfully at your food, then at you, then back to the food, whining quietly. But as much as you want to share the wealth of your plate, feeding him table scraps is not the way. Table food is too fatty for the digestive systems of most animals and can lead to severe stomach upsets (and occasionally trigger a possibly fatal pancreatic inflammation). In addition, you encourage your dog to beg even more to get his way. Reinforcing this behavior can lead to problems down the road. To keep your pet safe this season, remember the following: Bones are highly dangerous to dogs; they can splinter and puncture the stomach or intestines. So think twice before throwing your dog a T-bone; he's better off with those made specifically for dogs. Don't fill your dog's (or cat's) bowl with table scraps. Most are too fatty for an animal's digestive system. Don't give your cat or dog chocolate; it is toxic to animals. Make sure to put garbage into tightly covered cans - to prevent your dog from giving into temptation and making a meal of your discards. Call your veterinarian if your pet shows signs of stomach upset - diarrhea or vomiting.