Snacking right on Superbowl Sunday

Be careful that your pet doesn't over eat on Superbowl Sunday while you are busy concentrating on the game.

Several foods to avoid feeding your pet this weekend include anything fried or battered, covered in creamy sauces and steer clear of salty snacks. In fact, crunchy vegetables such as broccoli, baby carrots, celery and asparagus are as good for pooches as they are for people.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, a 20-pound dog fed a single chicken wing is similar to an average adult eating almost seven wings. Feed a 40-pound dog one-half slice of pepperoni pizza and that's the same as an adult consuming two slices of pepperoni pizza and a 12-ounce cola.

Plus another overlooked risk of chicken wings apart from the calorie content and the bones is the salt. One buffalo wing has almost about 160 to 200 mg of sodium. That's about the amount of sodium recommended for a 20-pound dog in a day. Feeding a dog too much salt can cause high blood pressure and can contribute to kidney and heart disease. Other foods high in salt that should not be fed to pets include pizza, hamburgers and cheeseburgers, fries, pretzels, potato chips, canned beef stew, potato salad and many sauces.

Alcohol is another potential danger for pets. Dogs and cats are extremely sensitive to alcoholic beverages and will often drink from half-empty cups and bottles and become ill. As little as a few ounces of beer or wine can prove toxic to a dog or cat.

The answer keeps one eye on the game and the other on your dog.