If there is one thing we count on seeing on the Thanksgiving table besides the turkey, it would have to be the cranberry sauce. And if you are anything like us, then the only acceptable form of cranberry sauce is the canned variety (Ocean Spray please).
While we may want to treat our pups to some of the things that we are enjoying during Thanksgiving, there are actually a lot of things that our dogs can't eat when it comes to these holiday meals. And we wanted to know if the canned cranberry sauce was one of those things.
So in order to figure out whether or not our dogs can enjoy canned cranberry sauce, since we already know that cranberries themselves can be a yes, we turned to the experts. Both Dr. Kathryn Dench of Paw Origins and Dr. Jessica Apted of Sploot Veterinary Care had the answers we needed.
Is canned cranberry sauce safe for dogs to eat?
While both experts had similar answers, here is what we learned:
"Canned cranberry sauce often contains high amounts of sugar and artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Additionally, the added ingredients may not be safe for your dog’s digestive system. It’s better to avoid giving your dog canned cranberry sauce."Dr. Jessica Apted
We always recommend that people check labels to make sure that xylitol (also known as Birch Sugar) is not present in anything given to your dog. And yes, this includes things like peanut butter.
"Canned cranberry sauce is typically loaded with sugars and other additives that are not suitable for dogs. While a small lick might not cause harm, larger quantities can contribute to gastrointestinal upset or even lead to diabetes in the long run."Dr. Kathryn Dench
We appreciate the fact that Dr. Dench points out that a small lick may not cause any harm (particularly in larger dogs), as we have often heard people talk about their dog eating a piece of chocolate with no ill effect and other things that are bad for our dogs. And sure, a small piece of something might not hurt them in the long run, but too much of anything is no good and if it is already an item that could be harmful or toxic, then why take the chance.
Maybe it is us, but we are going to skip the canned cranberry sauce when it comes to giving our staff pup a treat this Thanksgiving.