Keeping Our Pets Safe Over the Holidays

This food-filled holiday presents some additional risks to our pets, but a few simple precautions can help keep our furry friends safe.

The tantalizing smells of the Thanksgiving kitchen are enough to drive the most well-behaved pet to distraction and their behavior may not be up to its usual standards. Your guests may be tempted to give them goodies from their plates, so share your house rules with your guests. Those folks who don’t own pets are often especially unaware of the potential hazards of feeding table food and may unintentionally provide inappropriate items to your pets if they aren’t advised in advance.

It may be helpful to take Fido for a nice long walk before the big meal to help calm him and it’s a great stress reliever for you too. Then, a nice meal before the holiday dinner so he’s not hungry while everyone is eating. 

To avoid unexpected begging at the table, it may be safer and easier to place the furry ones in another room with toys filled with kibble or a nice chew toy to provide some distraction. A few favorite toys for occupying the dogs and cats are Premier Squirrel Dude Dog Toy, Large,  Premier Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug, Medium/Large, Premier Pet Products FUNKitty Egg-cersizer Cat Toy and KONG Wobbler Dog Toy, Red.

Some particular holiday hazards include:

•  Rich and fatty foods can cause pancreatitis, an inflammation of the digestive organ which is painful and can cause serious illness. Especially avoid turkey skin, butter-laden foods and whipped cream.
•  Turkey bones splinter easily which can lead to life threatening injuries if ingested.
•  Onions can be toxic to pets even in small quantities and can cause a serious anemia.
•  Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure and should be avoided completely.
•  Chocolate, caffeine and alcohol all have toxic potential & should be well out of reach.
•  Sugar free treats containing xylitol can be very dangerous for animals and can cause a life threatening decline in blood sugar.
•  The string from trussing the turkey is soaked in juices and is very tempting. Ingested string can cause intestinal injury and lead to emergency surgery for removal.
•  Macadamia nuts are toxic and should be avoided completely.
•  The garbage cans will be particularly tempting so make sure the lids are secure. Many a turkey carcass has been stolen from the garbage container!
•  Candles should be high up away from wagging tails and never left unattended. Monitor the curious kitties closely around the candles.
•  Make sure any sharp knives are loaded in the dishwasher point down and the door is kept closed when the pets are nearby.
•  If the kitchen is really crowded, it may be best to move the pets out to avoid tripping over them or stepping on tender toes.

What is a safe food treat for the fur kids?? Some small bites of cooked turkey without any skin are the safest bet. The main thing to avoid is fat, so turkey is an excellent choice and gravy a hazardous one. If the veggies aren’t spiced or cooked with butter, a few green beans or carrots are good too. A spoonful of mashed potatoes are okay if not laden with butter, but avoid the creamed onions completely. One option is to hold back a few fresh carrots or green beans and offer those raw with a bit of turkey for a nice Thanksgiving treat.

May your holiday be safe and happy for all. This is a wonderful time to be thankful for all the riches in our lives and our pets are at the top of that list!