Pet Health Articles
How to Make Sure Your Pet Has a Happy Thanksgiving
2017-11-20
It's that time of year again. The incredible aroma of turkey, pie, and other Thanksgiving goodies is in the air and your cat or dog goes crazy with anticipation. It might seem cruel not to let us share in the bounty, but deep down we know it's for our own good. People food isn't meant for pets and vice versa. Here are some other tips for everyone to have safe and happy Thanksgiving.
In gratitude,
Carlos
Nothing can ruin a holiday celebration faster than a pet who suddenly becomes sick or suffers an injury. That’s probably not what you had in mind when you planned your Thanksgiving get-together this year. However, the excitement of different people in the house and the smells of forbidden food can make even the most well-behaved dog or cat act differently than you would expect. This includes getting into things that could harm him. The good news is that you can take several steps to keep your pet safe and stay out of the animal version of the emergency room this Thanksgiving.
If you’re hosting the holiday meal, keep in mind that some people may have animal allergies. In this case, it’s best to keep your dog or cat comfortable in a room as far away from the kitchen as possible. We also recommend keeping your pet elsewhere if you’re afraid she will become over-excited to the point of stealing someone’s food or accidentally knocking someone over. If your pet does remain out with the company, make sure that someone keeps an eye on the front door. It only takes a minute for her to dash outside and away from what she perceives as a stressful situation.
Re-Consider Sharing Part of Your Thanksgiving Meal with Your Pet
Like many pet owners, you might enjoy sharing a morsel of people food with your pet to make him happy. While a small piece of unseasoned turkey shouldn’t cause any harm, we urge you to exercise caution with other common staples of the Thanksgiving meal. Many of them are toxic for dogs and cats, including the following:
Like many pet owners, you might enjoy sharing a morsel of people food with your pet to make him happy. While a small piece of unseasoned turkey shouldn’t cause any harm, we urge you to exercise caution with other common staples of the Thanksgiving meal. Many of them are toxic for dogs and cats, including the following:
- Grapes and raisins
- Cake batter and bread dough
- Sage and other common seasonings
- Avocados
- Chocolate
Depending on what your pet consumes, she could experience immediate symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Other foods are more of a choking hazard than a gastrointestinal one, such as grapes and raisins. Your dog or cat could also try to knock over the garbage can to get a treat or even ingest dropped food wrappers. Be sure your garbage can is in a locked cabinet and that you pick up anything that you or your guests drop right away.
What to Do in an Emergency
Buffalo Companion Animal Hospital will be closed on Thanksgiving. If you experience an emergency, contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-855-764-7661. You can also contact us for a list of 24-hour emergency clinics before Thanksgiving.
Buffalo Companion Animal Hospital will be closed on Thanksgiving. If you experience an emergency, contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-855-764-7661. You can also contact us for a list of 24-hour emergency clinics before Thanksgiving.
We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and hope that your pet stays safe!
Photo Credit: MDMilliman / Getty Images
Photo Credit: MDMilliman / Getty Images
