Picture this. It’s the end of your family’s Noche Buena feast and you’re at the table scraping the leftover hamon and embutido onto a plate. Suddenly, you feel something soft nudging your foot. It’s Bantay giving you its pa-cute puppy dog eyes, obviously having smelled the food. Who can say no to that face? So you give in and give your dog some leftover hamon. Para di sayang yung food, you tell yourself.

Reality check: It’s really not okay to give your pet your family’s tira-tira. You’re doing your pet a great disservice. Not only is this practice unhealthy, but it also puts your dog at risk of eating something toxic by accident!

Here are four reasons you should not give your Noche Buena leftovers to your dog:

1. Your dog can develop digestive problems

A dog’s digestive system is different from a human’s, and the average human food is usually for a dog to properly digest (think of the Noche Buena lechon and cheese-filled lasagna!). When you feed your alaga food that's unsuitable for it, your dog may end up experiencing .

2. Your dog can gain unhealthy weight

If you want your dog to be healthy, make sure it stays within the appropriate to its size, age, and breed. So, feeding it leftovers won’t help! One, your dog is probably eating its regular meals on top of these leftovers. Two, human food can increase your dog’s weight but not give it the vitamins and minerals it actually needs.

3. Your dog can eat something toxic

Did you know that there’s a whole ? Think twice before giving it the leftover embutido (raisins, garlic, onions, and cheese are a no-no!) and other food from your Noche Buena feast.

4. Your dog can develop bad behavior

Feeding your dog human food can reinforce like begging, hovering every meal time, refusing its own food, and even picky eating.

Rather than giving your dog holiday leftovers, give it the right food that satisfies its nutritional needs. Royal Canin is a trusted brand of pet food with a wide range of tailored nutrition to match a dog's breed, size, age, and even health sensitivities.

This holiday season, remember to keep your furry family member happy and healthy. Choosing Royal Canin is one way to do it.

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