Celebrate the Big Game Safely with Your Pets!

| Maggie Dean

Keep your dog safe and sound throughout your football celebration this year. Here is a quick guide on which popular tailgate foods are bad for dogs!

a pug sitting on a tiny couch with a football plushie

When you're cheering on your favorite team, you almost instantly think about all those delicious tailgate party treats! Well, you aren’t the only one with your eye on the buffet. Your favorite snacks could be putting your dogs at risk. Here are a few popular game day foods that you should keep out of reach of your pets:

Buffalo Wings

What’s a party without wings? We love them and unfortunately dogs do too. Cooked chicken bones are rigid and fragile and can shatter inside your dog’s digestive track. Even if your buffet boasts some boneless wings, the buffalo sauce is often too spicy for dogs to ingest. Any hot sauce will give your dog a terribly upset stomach.

Deep Fried Food

Now, we know fried food is bad for humans. All logic tells us that it is a no-go for dogs. Fried foods are actually WORSE for dogs than they are for people! Eating too much fat will disrupt digestion in the short term and cause long-term health issues.

Alcohol

A common misconception people have is that dogs can tolerate alcohol. This is NOT true. Alcohol – yes, even beer – has ingredients that are toxic to dogs of all sizes. Canine digestive, respiratory, and nervous systems cannot handle the effects of any kind of alcohol, so it is best to just keep it well out of your pet's way.

Toothpicks

Finally, try to steer clear of using an abundance of toothpicks. It should go without saying, but if your pup jumps up and gets a mouthful of cheese cubes, it’s a lot better for them if they aren’t full of miniature wooden spikes. When swallowed, even just a few of these have the potential to cause severe damage.

These tips don’t mean you can’t enjoy your party with your best buddy. Take these precautions into consideration on February 12th to ensure a fun-filled day for everyone involved! 


Get pet insurance coverage through AKC Pet Insurance (underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company) and prepare for unexpected accidents and injuries all year long.

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Maggie Dean

Maggie Dean is the proud owner of a Bichon Frise / Cocker Spaniel mix named Rocco and a Holland Lop rabbit, Bunson. She’s been the Inbound Marketer at AKC Pet Insurance since 2016 but has had a passion for animals her whole life. If you’re an animal lover, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook to keep up with all things cute, funny, and interesting!

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