Thanksgiving Safety Tips

We all love our furry, four-legged companions. They’re family, and Thanksgiving is about celebrating with family. Be aware that our furry friends can’t eat the same meal that we do for Thanksgiving. Some foods from our celebratory meals can be harmful to your pet.

Turkey: If you decide to slip your pet some turkey, make sure it is boneless and well cooked. No raw or underdone meat. Your pet can contract salmonella exactly like you, and it’s not going to be fun for anyone. Also, do not give your animal the leftover carcass, poultry bones splinter very easily and can be very dangerous for animals, at the very least they are problematic for their digestive tracts.

Yeast: A surprising one, make sure your pet isn’t given any raw dough. Ingestion of the yeast from raw doughs continues to convert the sugars in the dough to carbon dioxide gas and alcohol. This can result in bloated drunken pets, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring hospitalization.

Baked goods: Dogs and cats need to stay away from baked goods as well, much for the same reason as with turkey. The raw eggs can cause them to contract salmonella, and if they get an upset tummy, you may not want dessert either.

Overindulging: Over eating is bad for all of us this time of year, but it’s especially bad for your pet. Fatty foods can damage your pet's digestive tract (sometimes causing pancreatitis) and sweets can contain poisonous ingredients. So, keep the people food on the table and make sure you put the trash in places your pet can't reach.

Celebrate with your pet in a happy and healthy way! While your family enjoys a special meal, give your cat and dog a small feast of their own. Offer them made-for-pets chew bones or in with their usual dinner add a nice surprise of some gravy, boneless well cooked turkey bits, green beans (not the ones from the green bean casserole) 100% pumpkin puree (not sweet potato casserole)-inside a food puzzle toy. They’ll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.

If you will be hosting people for the holidays please also be sure to alert all of your guests that there are pets in the vicinity. Even if your pets are comfortable around guests, make sure you watch them closely. While you’re welcoming hungry guests and collecting coats, a four-legged family member may make a break for it out the door and become lost.

If you believe your pet has eaten something that may be poisonous or is causing them distress please be sure to call the vet or the emergency vet right away (quick action saves lives). Signs of pet distress include: sudden changes in behavior, depression, pain, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!