St. Patrick’s Day offerings all dogs need to avoid

There are a lot of things we associate with St. Patrick’s Day, from parades and celebrations of Irish heritage, to food and drink offerings. But some of these offerings are actually bad for our pups.

St. Patrick’s Day is a fun holiday that gives many of us a chance to pretend we are Irish, while also celebrating with some delicious treats and offerings. However, while we may enjoy some of the special dishes and treats on offer for St. Patrick’s Day, the same can not be said for our dogs.

Although there are plenty of foods that are not safe for our dogs, and that we should be avoiding on a regular basis, this is one holiday when these particular items are especially present.

Alcohol

Even though alcohol is something that is a part of more than just St. Patrick’s Day, it does seem to be a bit more prevalent. Dogs should never be given alcohol, no matter what day it is, but with how likely we are to spill and make a mess during a rowdy celebration, it feels like this is the perfect time to reiterate the sentiment.

The problem with alcohol is the fact that it is easily absorbed into the bloodstream and because of how rapidly it happens, it will have an immediate impact on your dog. This can lead to our pups suffering from seizures, as well as respiratory failure. So, make sure that you keep the Guinness and the Kilkenny away from your pup.

Corned Beef

Corned beef is perhaps one of the most commonly associated foods with St. Patrick’s Day. And while this meat tastes delicious and makes us want to gorge ourselves (at least for a single day), that doesn’t mean it is safe for our dogs to eat, according to Dogster.

The problem with this beef is its high fat content, and while some fat is good, the level of fats in corned beef really is not. In fact, this level of fats can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and even pancreatitis in our pups. However, it is not just the fat that makes this meat bad for our dogs, it is also the way it’s cured with salt, sugar, and pepper. The excess of sodium is simply too much for our pups to handle. While we might not mind if our dog snags a piece of meat here and there, when it comes to corned beef, this is definitely one time we want them to avoid the scrap.

Irish Soda Bread

Although you may love fresh-baked Irish soda bread, it is just not good for our dogs. One of the main ingredients in this bread is either raisins of currants. And this is where the problem lies.

Raisins are actually bad for our dogs and can prove to be toxic. While we do not know which chemical in raisins is bad for pups, according to PetMD, that doesn’t mean they don’t have a bad effect on their health. It is said that raisins can cause dogs to suffer from kidney failure and overall dehydration. Avoid the raisins and the Irish soda bread, and keep your pup safe.

Shepherd’s Pie

Another staple of St. Patrick’s Day is shepherd’s pie . And while you may not think much of this delicious offering in terms of it being dog friendly, the reality is there are two primary ingredients that are extremely bad for our dogs.

Most shepherd’s pies include onions and garlic. And yet these two food items can be deadly for dogs. Ingesting onions or garlic can lead to poisoning our pups, which is why they should be kept away from any food that contains these ingredients.

While we are all for celebrating holidays, such as St. Patrick’s Day, we have to remember that our dogs need us to watch out for them as well. This means avoiding the foods that they can’t eat, and paying attention to what ends up in their reach.