Photo provided Belmont County Courthouse therapy dog Jersey relaxes while sporting some holiday attire at Operation Toy Lift at the Ohio Valley Mall earlier this month.

MARTINS FERRY – The holidays are here, and as family and friends gather you may think there’s no harm in feeding your pooch some table scraps.

But it is important to know what you can and can’t feed your pets during the holidays in order to keep them safe.

According to Purina, many seasonings, spices and other ingredients we add to dishes to add flavor aren’t good for dogs. Onions and garlic, salt and pepper are bad for dogs.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, pets should steer clear of

alcoholic beverages, apple seeds, apricot pits, avocados, cherry pits, candy, chocolate, chives, coffee (grounds, beans and chocolate-covered espresso beans), grapes, gum, hops used in home beer brewing, macadamia nuts, mushroom plants, mustard seeds, peach pits, potato leaves and stems, raisins, rhubarb leaves, tea, tomato leaves and stems, walnuts, Xylitol (an artificial sweetener that is toxic to pets) and yeast dough.

Not only is “human food” potentially life-threatening for household pets, but several iconic plants used for holiday decoration can lead to a life-or-death situation. Poinsettia, holly, mistletoe, lily and azaleas plants are toxic to pets.

According to Purina, poinsettias contain a sap inside their leaves that can irritate a cat’s mouth and esophagus. If ingested, cats may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or excessive drooling. Holly contains harmful chemicals that are toxic to cats. If ingested, holly can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and drooling. This spiny-leaved, berry-producing plant can be lethal to cats and should not deck the halls of your home during the holidays.

Mistletoe contains phoratoxins and lectins, which can cause similar reactions to holly. In larger amounts, severe reactions may occur, including a drop in blood pressure and heart rate, breathing problems, seizures and death.

For Lillies, the entire plant and even the water in the vase can be toxic to cats and can cause serious harm or death. Even small amounts of this plant can cause arrhythmia or kidney failure.

Azaleas contain a toxin called grayanotoxin, which can adversely affect the sodium channels within a cat’s body. Azalea toxicity can cause a wide range of symptoms, including excessive drooling, decreased appetite, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea and even cardiac failure. All parts of the azalea plant are toxic to cats.

If you believe your pet has ingested any of the items listed above, call your veterinarian.

Some holiday foods are safe for your pets to have while you gather around the tree.

Turkey, green beans, cranberries, carrots, potatoes, cheese, bread, pumpkin, cashews, corn, coconut, fish, eggs, ham, honey, peanuts, peanut butter, pork, popcorn, wheat, salmon and tuna are all safe for dogs and cats.

Belmont County Dog Warden Lisa Duvall said she believes the biggest pet-related concern with the holidays is having company. Dogs and cats often can get out of the home unexpectedly when company arrives, because the visitors may not have pets and aren’t used to keeping the door closed at all times.

She added that around the holidays people tend to get new pets as presents and, because it’s new for the whole family, people will tend to swarm around the pet to show it attention. That can become overwhelming, which can lead to the pet biting someone.

Duvall added that cats usually hide with visitors present, but she recommends putting a dog in the bedroom with a baby gate during holiday dinners and festivities so it doesn’t become overwhelmed.

“Regardless if it’s a new or a dog they’ve had for years, no dog wants kids romping all over them,” she said.

Lastly, she reminded the public to not leave their dogs outside when the temperature falls. “Everybody, keep your dogs in when it’s frigid cold,” Duvall said.