The season of backyard barbecues and family gatherings has arrived, which means plenty of mouth-watering foods that will tempt the taste buds of your pets. If you’ve got a cat or dog that loves being the life of the party, keep reading for our team’s tips on pet-safe foods that are perfect for summer menus.
Pet-Safe Foods Your Cats and Dogs Will Love
When it comes to sharing your summer spread with pets, their health and safety come first. Share only small portions of those foods that you know are safe, and ask your guests to do the same.
Here are some pet-safe foods found on many summer tables that you can safely share with your pets.
5 Delicious Summer Treats for Dogs
- Watermelon: No summer gathering is complete without cool, juicy watermelon, and your dog can enjoy small amounts either fresh or frozen.
- Vegetables: Veggie trays are staples of summer gatherings, and your pup can partake of fresh carrots, broccoli, sugar snap peas, and other pet-safe vegetables.
- Fruit: Serving up a bowl of mixed fruit? Fresh apples, bananas, pineapple, and berries make refreshing summer treats for dogs.
- Cheese: Small samples from your cheese platter will provide your dog with a boost of calcium and protein. Just keep the amount small.
- Lean meats: Fully cooked chicken or pork minus the skin and seasonings will make your pooch feel like an honored guest at the party!
5 Fabulous Healthy Snacks for Cats
- Cooked lean meats: Cats can safely nibble on small samples of cooked, unseasoned chicken, turkey, liver, and lamb.
- Seafood: You feline will love a taste of properly cooked, boneless fish.
- Veggies: Convert your carnivorous cat into a veggie lover with bites of steamed broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, peas, and asparagus.
- Fresh fruits: Rich in vitamins, fruits like bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, watermelon (with seeds removed), and apple chunks are healthy snacks for cats.
- Boiled eggs: Chock full of amino acids, small pieces of cooked eggs are safe for cats to consume.
Foods That Are Off-Limits to Pets
The ASPCA keeps an updated list of foods to avoid feeding pets, but here are some foods commonly found on the dinner table that can be toxic for cats and dogs:
- Onions
- Garlic
- Milk
- Chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Nuts and seeds
- Caffeine
- Raw or undercooked meat and eggs
- Bones
- Alcohol
Kickoff the Summer with a Checkup
At Blue Ravine Animal Hospital, we are dedicated to keeping the pets in our local communities healthy and safe. Please contact us if it’s been a while since your pet’s last comprehensive wellness exam. We can make sure your pet is prepared for summer and answer any questions you have about pet-safe foods.
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Posted in Pet Care Resources, Pet Health Information