Holiday fare not fair.

• Position: Pets - Feeding pets the right food during holidays - Brief article

Giving is a holiday tradition, but sharing a tasty treat with a pet can cause injury or illness, indicates Lorraine Corriveau of the School of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. "During the holidays, most animal-related emergency room visits are due to eating something inappropriate. Some foods cause upset stomachs; some are poisonous; and some can cause life-threatening obstructions."

More than 60% of pet owners will share holiday meals with their pets, and people who do should follow certain guidelines. For instance, a small amount of white turkey is an acceptable treat, but not the skin and bones. The skin often is fatty and can cause pets to develop pancreatitis, a painful inflammation. Poultry bones, especially cooked, have the potential to break off and cause a digestive tract perforation. If large amounts are consumed, they can cause an obstruction.

Moreover, see that pets avoid salty foods because sodium is not good for animals; sweets with chocolate or the artificial sweetener xylitol (both are considered toxic to dogs); and choking...