At this time of year, sharing our food with our pets, especially dogs, is something we've all been guilty of, since we are always tempted to slip our pets something under the table and give them the scraps after the festive meal. It’s their holiday, too, we rationalize. However, for their sake, we should not give them certain "treats."

Here's a list of foods that are dangerous if eaten by a dog.

 -- Fat Trimmings: (This one is very important.) Never give your dog fat trimmings from meat, especially ham, as high fat consumption can lead to a bout of pancreatitis, an extremely painful condition. Turkey skin is also high in fat content.

-- Chicken/Turkey Bones: These are not the bones to give your dog, as they splinter, and cause internal damage.

-- Salty Foods: Avoid giving your dogs too much salt. Just like it's not good for us, it's bad for them, too.

-- Onion and Garlic:  These contain a substance called thiosulphate, which causes anaemia, resulting in the destruction of red blood cells.

 -- Coffee and Tea: Caffeine affects the central nervous system and the heart. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning, include vomiting, and a racing heart.

-- Milk and Dairy Products: It has been reported that as many as 50 percent of dogs are lactose intolerant, and do not handle milk or dairy products well. The usual symptom is severe diarrhea.

-- Beer: Alcohol is toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty in breathing.

-- Chocolate: It contains a stimulant diuretic called theobromine which affects the central nervous system, and cardio vascular system of the dog.

If your dog gets hold of chocolate by mistake, you must seek veterinary advice immediately, since it can cause death.

-- Grapes and Raisins: These can cause kidney damage.

-- Macadamia Nuts: They causes tremors and muscle weakness in dogs.

We agree that pets should enjoy the holiday season, too. But if you want to give them treats, be selective. A good piece of roasted turkey, without the skin, is fine. Or, pick up some special pet treats at your local store…they're extra healthy, too.