Take onions and garlic, for instance. These culinary staples are used to create any number of delicious recipes from all over the culinary map. The trouble is that onions and garlic cause serious health problems in dogs. "Onions and garlic both contain N-propyl disulfide, which destroys red blood cells, leading to hemolytic  anemia," Weiskopf says. And despite garlic’s longstanding reputation as a flea repellent, "There really is no scientific proof that garlic prevents fleas." (What really works to prevent fleas is Neem oil.)

What if Spot scores a bite of the kids’ pizza, or a lick of Ragu spaghetti sauce? Or what if you’ve made chicken soup with onions, and you’d like to ladle some over your Friend’s bowl? Don’t panic, Weiskopf advises. "Nothing’s going to happen. What you don’t want to be doing is chopping raw onions into your dog’s bowl! A little onion or garlic is fine once in a while; a lot is not a good thing."

Be careful with onion and garlic powders, as well, or any product containing them (i.e. chips), for besides being more concentrated, powdered onion and garlic also contain salt. "Salt preserved with anti-caking agents is bad," Weiskopf says. "I prefer Celtic sea salt because a little goes a long way, plus it contains all kinds of good microtrace nutrients. But sugar is a no." Red pepper, on the other hand, is good for dogs with arthritis because of the Capsaicin it contains; other spices recommended for dogs with joint swelling are "all the yellow spices: turmeric, cumin, and curry," Weiskopf adds.

If you’re a cooking buff with a regular habit of setting saucepans and plates on the floor for Spot to lick clean (also known as the "pre-wash" cycle in dog-friendly kitchens), you could be compromising his health if you cook certain other veggies. "Dogs - and humans - with arthritis should be careful about overloading on nightshade vegetables, as they aggravate arthritic conditions," Weiskopf points out. "The nightshade vegetables - so called because they mature at night - include green peppers, eggplants, potatoes, and tomatoes."

Raisins and grapes are forbidden fruit, for they can cause kidney failure in dogs; sadly, many pets have died from ingesting raisins. Although it’s not known exactly why grapes and raisins don’t agree with dogs, Weiskopf has a theory: "Grapes are a heavily sprayed crop, and since so many grapes are coming from Chile, I suspect there’s a pesticide that’s causing problems for dogs. Also, raisins are preserved with sulfites, which cause allergic reactions in many dogs." (Be wary of foods preserved with nitrates, as well, such as sausages and bacon; delicious as these are, they too can trigger allergic reactions in dogs.)

"Legumes such as soy products and beans contain phytate, which inhibits the digestion and absorption of other vital nutrients – including your dog’s important minerals," Weiskopf says. "If you’re going to feed legumes of any kind, such as chickpeas or lima beans, at least make sure they’re well-cooked, because that does help; it’s much worse if your dog eats these raw."

Many seasoned snackers – especially the vegetarians in our midst – keep on hand a supply of that hugely popular chickpea dip known as hummus. Again, don’t panic if Spot helps himself to some. "If you’re eating crackers and hummus and your dog gets one, don’t worry that you’ve harmed your dog – just don’t let him ingest huge amounts of legumous vegetables."

Meanwhile, if Italian food is on the menu and you’re letting your pet participate in pasta preparation, make sure Spot does not take his al dente. "Always overcook grains and pasta when you feed them to dogs, because they don’t have the starch-digesting enzymes that we do," Weiskopf explains. "It’s best to overcook any grain material that you feed your dog, including rice."

On the road to and from grandmother’s house for a holiday feast, the fast-food signs are bound to beckon. "If you’re stopping for a bite at McDonald’s or KFC, I don’t have a problem with giving the dog some chicken – just peel off the skin, because it’s got all kinds of spices in it. Another acceptable road food option is the McDonald’s Filet of Fish sandwich."

In fact, "fish is absolutely fabulous for dogs," Weiskopf says, "and you should include the skin because in and under the skin is where the majority of the Omega 3 is stored, and you want your dogs to have Omega 3s. Deep, cold water fish are best: salmon, mackerel, sardines. Anchovies are too salty."

Thanksgiving has its own caveats. Don’t let your dog lick the turkey-roasting pan – "that’s the surefire way to give a dog a pancreatitis attack," Weiskopf says. "You can pour a tablespoon of drippings over your dog’s food, but do not let him lick the pan clean." Carved turkey meat and small bits of skin are fine dog treats; cooked turkey bones are not. If you’re not planning to use the turkey neck for another culinary purpose, such as gravy, offer it raw to your dog as a special holiday treat – but first, dip it in boiling water for 10 seconds to kill surface bacteria. Cranberries are fine, but avoid canned cranberry as it’s high in sugar. Sweet potatoes are also fine; just take care never to serve your dog raw skin off any potato.

Upon graduating from puppyhood, dogs start to resemble lactose-intolerant people. "After infancy, dogs lose the enzyme Lactase, which helps them digest milk products," Weiskopf says. "Feeding milk products to dogs and cats can cause gastric distress. However," she adds, "feeding them fermented milk products such as yogurt and buttermilk are fine for dogs; they don’t usually distress the animal’s system.

For those who just can’t resist giving dogs ice cream, go ahead – in moderation. "You can give them some ice cream; a little bit isn’t going to hurt," Weiskopf says. "But if you notice your dog gets gastric distress, don’t do it again." And of course, avoid any ice cream flavor that contains chocolate, chocolate chips, or raisins