Community Corner

8 Tips for Keeping Pets Safe on Thanksgiving

Avoid a trip to the animal ER this Thanksgiving with these safety tips from the ASPCA.

Thanksgiving is not only great for the two-legged members of the family, it’s fun for the four-legged family members too.

With Thanksgiving being one of the busiest days of the year for vet emergency calls, the ASPCA offers these tips for keeping your dog and cat safe and out of the 24/7 pet ER this Thanksgiving.

1. Don’t feed pets from the table. Tell your guests and family members not to offer treats from their own dinner plates to the family pet. Just remember that dogs’ and cats’ stomachs are much smaller than humans. If all of your guests are sneaking a turkey slice to your pet, it would be the equivalent of feeding an entire 15-pound turkey to a human baby.

2. A bite of the bird. If you do decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure that it is boneless and fully cooked. Undercooked or raw turkey may contain salmonella bacteria.

3. Sage advice. Don’t offer your pet stuffing (or do you say dressing) as a treat. “Stuffing contains herbs, spices and other essential oils that could can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils,” the ASPCA says.

4. Your pet isn’t Pop ‘n Fresh. Don’t spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him raw bread dough. ASPCA experts say that when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal’s body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency requiring surgery.

5. Don’t let them eat cake. Keep your nosy pet’s nose out of the cake batter if you plan on baking this Thanksgiving. Raw eggs in batter could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning before it is fully cooked. (Read number four.)

6. Too much of a good thing. A few small boneless pieces of turkey, a taste of mashed potatoes and veggies shouldn’t pose a problem, but you don’t want your pets to overindulge because they could end up with a big belly ache, diarrhea or even worse. Cooked turkey skin is especially bad for dogs and cats, and could cause an inflammatory condition in the pancreas called pancreatitis. The ASPCA recommends keeping pets on their regular diets during the holidays.

7. A fancy feast for pets. So that your pet isn’t staring at grandma with his big sad eyes at the dinner table, give your dog or cat their own fancy feast. Add a few turkey tidbits to their usual dinner and even veggies, like green beans or sweet potatoes. You can also put these inside a Kong toy which should keep your pooch occupied during dinner. Just remember to pluck the mini-marshmallows out of the sweet potatoes first.

8. Keep track of your pets. Nothing ruins a holiday more than a lost pet. Your guests may not be as vigilant about closing the backyard gate or front door. Put your pets in a quiet room with their food, water and favorite toys where they feel safe. You’ll feel better too, knowing your pets are secure as you multi-task in the kitchen and visit with your guests.

Source: ASPCA



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here