While you’re chowing down on Thanksgiving treats you might be tempted to slip your pets some goodies so they can share in the feast.
Don’t do it!
The thing is, you know those 3 helpings of turkey and dressing and all the trimmings, not to mention the pumpkin pie, are likely to leave you pretty darn stuffed. You know when to stop eating (and know the consequences if you keep eating!), but your pets don’t! If you have a crowd at your house for Thanksgiving, and your dog makes the rounds getting a little handout here and a little handout there, he’s going to keep eating. Eventually, you’ll have a sick pet on your hands – and a stained carpet to prove it. So, to prevent food mishaps, set some Turkey Day ground rules for the pets in your house.
- Make a conscious decision to give your pets their regular food on Thanksgiving. If you really feel compelled to give them something special, make one person responsible for the treats, and only give a small amount.
- If you do give your pet human treats, be sure to avoid foods that may cause illness or death. Common foods you might have around for the holiday that your pets shouldn’t have are: avocados, macadamia nuts, onions, raisins & grapes, mushrooms, chocolate, yeast dough, and anything with xylitol.
- Keep foods out of your pets’ reach. Whether you have a large buffet or people are carrying food throughout the house, make sure things are set up to keep the food away from your pets.
- Make sure the trash cans aren’t where dogs can get them! Even though you’ve been very careful with the leftover trimmings, if your pet can get to the trash can, he may just help himself.
- If necessary, keep your pets in a bedroom or other closed room while everyone eats dinner. This will remove the temptation for your guests to slip them goodies, and will ensure your pets don’t snag something from a table or plate.
- Don’t give your dogs the bones! Cooked bones can be extremely dangerous. They can splinter easily and pieces can get caught in a dog’s throat, stomach, or intestines. This can be quite painful (and sometimes deadly), and very expensive if it means veterinary care to remove the bone fragments.
Even when we do our best to prevent illness or injuries, sometimes things happen. For this reason, it’s important to know where your local animal emergency clinic is, what their hours are, and if there’s a veterinarian on location at all times. This way if the unexpected happens, you won’t waste time trying to find out where to take your sick pet.
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