Top 10 Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips
Thanksgiving is full of food, family, and thankfulness. As people gather for their thanksgiving feast, they may be tempted to indulge their pets as well. Pets are more likely to be given table scraps and other treats over the holiday but owners should understand that too much divergence from a pet’s regular diet can cause illness or injury. Follow these pet safety tips to keep all your loved ones safe this Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips
- Rich, fatty foods are hard on your pet’s pancreas and can cause gastroenteritis and other stomach upset so be careful not to give your pet too much or to change her diet too much.
- Bones can be very dangerous to dogs; some bones can cut or obstruct your pet’s insides. Resist the risk to give your pet a turkey bone.
- Stuffing and many other holiday dishes often contain onions. Onions and even onion powder can actually destroy your dog or cat’s red blood cells, which can lead to anemia.
- Keep chocolate holiday deserts and grapes from the fruit tray away from your pets as they can cause kidney damage or even death.
- Keep food wrapping under wraps. Aluminum foil, wax paper, and other food wrappings can cause intestinal obstruction if ingested so be sure to keep them in drawers or high up and away from pets reach.
- Make sure your pet always has fresh water. With the hustle and bustle of extra people in the house, there’s more chance that someone will bump into the water bowl or that you will forget to refill it when it’s empty.
- With extra people and alcohol in the house, it will be noisier than usual. Watch out for signs of distress in your pet and offer him a quiet place to retreat.
- Keep your garbage extra secure after a big holiday meal as there could be a lot of dangerous things in the bag such as turkey bones and fat.
- Be careful not to give your pet raw or undercooked turkey and do not give your pet the left over carcass.
- Be careful that your pet doesn’t get into raw bread dough left out to rise. The yeast converts the sugars in the dough to carbon dioxide gas and alcohol, potentially making your pet bloated and drunk.
You can make your pet feel special while still being a responsible owner. A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a bite of mashed potato or green beans, and even a lick or two of pumpkin pie should be just fine. You may also want to get them a made-for-pets chew toy or bone. Otherwise, keep your pet’s diet and exercise routine the same to minimize their chances of stomach upset or worse.
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