Neighbor News
Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Pet Owners
As you start to prep for the big turkey day, please bear in mind our safety tips for pet owners.
Did you know that hidden dangers lurk in your holiday kitchen? The experts at Newtown Veterinary Specialists have compiled a list of tips to help keep your pets safe during the bounty of Thanksgiving.
1. Don’t break your pets’ diets if they eat special foods for medical conditions. If you aren’t certain if it’s safe for a particular pet to have treats, consult your family veterinarian first.
2. All things in moderation! Don’t go overboard with Thanksgiving meal treats. For a small dog, one piece of pumpkin pie may have an entire day’s worth of calories. For a small cat, one ounce of cheese is nearly the equivalent of a person eating two Big Macs!
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3. Make sure any food you offer your pet is room temperature. Hot foods can cause oral or esophageal burns.
4. Break foods into bite-sized pieces to avoid choking hazards. Fully cooked vegetables are softer and safer for your pet to swallow than raw veggies.
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5. Don’t feed your pets foods on toothpicks or skewers! Never assume your pet will nibble the food off and leave the toothpick or skewer behind.
6. Pets can’t enjoy all the foods we can. Here are some common Thanksgiving foods that are generally safe for pets:
--Green beans
--Sweet potato (avoid sugary preparations)
--Broccoli
--Turkey breast (boneless, skinless)
--Carrots and peas
--Celery
7. Avoid these dangerous foods:
--Raisins, xylitol and chocolate
--Fatty foods such as butter, bacon, greasy meats, cream and other full-fat dairy products
--Raw meats
--Macadamia nuts
--Garlic and onions
--Cooked or raw bones
--Heavily seasoned, spicy or salty foods
--Raw bread dough
8. Avoid these dangers, follow our tips, and you and your pet should be able to enjoy the festive day to its fullest!
Newtown Veterinary Specialists Emergency Service is open ‘round-the-clock--even on turkey day. Please feel free to call us at 203-270-VETS (8387) should you have any concerns. For more information about our state-of-the-art medical and surgical practice, visit www.newtownvets.com.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
