Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with so much going on with planning for a perfect meal and entertaining your family, you may not be thinking about the safety of your pets.

thanksgiving dogs

  • Be careful with turkey: If you decide to feed your pet a small bit of turkey, make sure it’s boneless, skinless and well cooked. Don’t give pets raw or uncooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria. Do not give your pet the leftover carcass. The bones can be problematic for the digestive tract.
  • No bread dough: When a dog or cat ingests raw bread dough, the yeast 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.
  • Don’t let them eat cake: If you’re baking Thanksgiving desserts, be sure to keep your pets’ noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs, which could contain salmonella that may lead to food poisoning.
  • Fatty foods: Too many fatty, rich or unfamiliar foods can give your pet pancreatitis or gastroenteritis, two medical conditions that can be painful and even life-threatening.
  • Just say no to these: Certain bones can lacerate or obstruct your pets’ insides. Save the bones for the broth, not your dog. Onions and onion powder, which are widely found in stuffing as seasoning, will destroy your dog’s red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. Grapes and raisins contain a toxin that can cause kidney damage to both dogs and cats. Chocolate can actually be fatal to a dog.
  • Be careful of food wrappings: Aluminum foil, wax paper and other food wrappings can cause intestinal obstruction. Make sure to place these items securely in the garbage.
  • Quiet time: Make sure your pet has a quiet retreat should the holiday festivities become too much. Watch his or her behavior for stress.
  • Fresh water: Make sure your pet always has some.

 

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