Football fare is nearly irresistible for dogs - especially when sitting at eye-level on the coffee table - but even cats can grab a piece of the action. Unfortunately, furry fans who intercept game day grub are likely to catch more than they bargained for.

Petplan Pet Insurance encourages would-be revelers with pets to think carefully before serving the following:• Brew-hoo: Just like people, some animals have a taste for beer. But think twice before pouring your pet a pint: even a nip can cause fatal respiratory depression.• No bones about it: Chicken wings have especially fine bones, which can splinter easily and puncture the GI tract. Besides, the sauces are virtually guaranteed to cause an upset stomach. Be sure to keep wings out of paws reach and after bones are thrown away, take the trash out to keep pets from trying to dumpster dive.• Not fun-ion: Onion rings are doubly dangerous; onions in any form are poisonous to pets and fried foods can cause diarrhea.• (Don't) pick 'em: Toothpicks may make a nice presentation for appetizers, but can cause severe and potentially fatal damage to pets' GI tracts if swallowed.• Aw, nuts!: Many nut varieties have a devastating effect on dogs' nervous systems. Walnuts and macadamias are especially toxic and can cause vomiting, paralysis and even death.Here are tips from Petplan veterinarians to be sure pets and people alike enjoy game day:Start with a game plan: For some pets, the temptation may simply be too great. If you know your pet is going to try to steal food from the table, put him in a separate room during the game.Watch the turnovers: When begging doesn't work, dogs may resort to linebacker tactics: playing smart and aggressive. Especially if you have guests over for the game, encourage them to minimize the risk of fumbling food by sitting at a table or using snack trays.The best defense is a good offense: Go for the extra point by keeping pet-friendly snacks handy for pets with hungry eyes. Better yet, go for two with a new or favorite toy to keep pets occupied during the game.Don't leave it all on the field: Keep an eye on unattended plates and cups - and make sure to clean up promptly. Even if they're blocked at the line of scrimmage, sufficiently motivated dogs will run the end-around without a second thought.For more information, visit

www.gopetplan.com.