Keep Your Pets Safe This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family, share delicious food, and reflect on gratitude. Naturally, we want to include our furry family members in the festivities, but some holiday traditions can pose risks for pets. Before sneaking your pup, a turkey leg or letting your kitty sample stuffing, it’s important to know how to keep them safe during the celebration.
Here are some essential Thanksgiving safety tips for pets:
Thanksgiving Food Dangers for Dogs and Cats
It’s tempting to share a taste of your Thanksgiving meal with your pets, but many festive dishes can harm their health. Be cautious about foods that can upset their stomachs or even lead to emergencies.
Avoid feeding your pets these common Thanksgiving foods:
Turkey: While a small piece of unseasoned white meat is okay, avoid giving them fatty dark meat, skin, or bones. Bones can splinter and cause dangerous blockages or injuries.
Garlic, onions, and other alliums: Ingredients like garlic, onion, leeks, and chives are toxic to pets, damaging their red blood cells. Many dishes—like stuffing, gravy, and casseroles—contain these ingredients, so keep them off your pet’s plate.
Unbaked dough with yeast: Yeast dough can expand in a pet’s stomach, causing painful bloating or even alcohol poisoning due to fermentation. Keep rising dough far out of reach!
Desserts: Chocolate, raisins, currants, and xylitol (a common sugar substitute) are highly toxic to pets. Even a small amount can lead to serious health issues, so ensure pies, cookies, and other treats are kept well away from curious noses.
Make sure to secure your trashcan to prevent pets from scavenging for dangerous scraps. Let your guests know not to feed your pets anything without your permission to avoid accidental harm.
Pet-Friendly Thanksgiving Treats
Want your pets to join the feast in a safe way? Opt for pet-friendly options like raw carrots, green beans, apple slices, sweet potato chunks, or plain pumpkin puree (not the sweetened pie filling). These healthy treats will make them feel included without the risk.
Manage Guests and Secure Your Home
With the hustle and bustle of guests arriving and leaving, take steps to ensure your pets stay safe and stress-free:
Prevent door escapes: Use gates or keep pets leashed to avoid door-dashing. Cats are safest in a closed room while guests come and go.
Guest bags: Visitors’ purses, backpacks, or suitcases may contain harmful items like medications, candy, or gum with xylitol. Ask guests to hang their bags up or store them in a closed room.
By taking these precautions, you can enjoy a stress-free Thanksgiving while ensuring your pets stay happy, healthy, and safe.
From all of us at The Downtown Dog Resort and Swan Harbor Animal Hospital, we wish you and your pets a joyful and safe Thanksgiving!
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