When hosting a holiday party or meal, your dog or cat might be lurking nearby, hoping for a bite. However, many festive foods can be harmful to pets, not just chocolate. Kansas State University veterinarian Dr. Susan Nelson highlights surprising dangers, including foods with xylitol, a sugar-free sweetener toxic to dogs and cats.

“It causes low blood sugar and liver failure, and people don’t think about it because it can be in baked goods, it can be in our sugar-free candies, and also be in some of our medications, things like that as well,” said Nelson.

Xylitol is also commonly found in sugar-free gum. Nelson recalls cases where dogs rummaged through coats and purses at parties, finding and eating gum. This sweetener is especially dangerous for dogs, as are fatty meat scraps, which can also cause serious health issues.

“All those fatty parts can cause what we call pancreatitis, which can become life-threatening for them as well. And then some of our gravies and things like that are made with onion powder, which is a lot more concentrated than just plain onion. And they can have garlic powder and things in them as well. And so for both cats and dogs, that can also be an issue as far as causing a type of anemia that they can get,” said Nelson.

Even nuts such as macadamia, almonds, walnuts, and pecans can cause issues ranging from vomiting to severe gastrointestinal problems that might require costly surgery. Raisins and grapes, common in holiday treats, are toxic to dogs, and even raw bread dough can pose serious risks if ingested.

Dr. Nelson advises party hosts to keep food out of your pets’ reach or your pets away from the food. If pets are roaming during the festivities, make sure your guests know not to feed them.