How to Keep a Pet Safe on Thanksgiving

Dogs and cats are part of the family, so of course we like to include them in holiday celebrations. However, not all of the festivities are okay for them to join in. The following are steps to making your pet’s Thanksgiving happy and safe.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Feed your pet a regular meal before guests arrive. Dogs and cats do better with routine and this will reduce the chances of begging or stealing.
2. Reward your pet with a small portion of plain turkey (minus the bones) along with his regular food. Bones can splinter and cause choking or get lodged in the stomach or intestines. Rich, fatty foods such as turkey skin, ham, mashed potatoes, butter and gravy can upset the stomach and bread may cause gas or Bloat.
3. Let the guests know whether it's okay or not for your dog or cat to go outdoors. If it's not, make sure they know to keep the door closed behind them. Check to make sure any outside gates are secured.
4. Tell the guests not to feed your pet table scraps. This includes desserts containing chocolate, which can be fatal to dogs and cats. Sugar is not good either. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs.
5. Make sure leftover food, aluminum foil and plastic wrap are disposed of quickly and the trashcan is covered well. There might be dangerous things in the trash including coffee grinds which can be poisonous to dogs. Don’t leave out snacks, such as nuts and potato chips.
6. Give your pet a “time out” and a chance to settle down and take a nap in a quiet area away from all the hullabaloo. Hanging out with the company may be exciting for them in small doses, but they are liable to become stressed after a while. A nice walk with your canine buddy is also a good idea.
7. If traveling, make sure you don't wait until the last minute to make plans for your pet. Choose the safest and most comfortable environment. Take time to research boarding facilities and pet sitters, and keep in mind they book up quickly around holiday time.

Tips & Warnings

• Have your regular vet or the nearest animal emergency clinic’s number handy in case your pet ingests the wrong food. For a fee, you can also receive 24-hour emergency assistance by calling the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Hotline at 1-888-426-4435.
• In keeping with the holiday theme, you can buy healthy cranberry snacks for cats—and for dogs, natural jerky treats that contain whole turkey. Or if you have a dehydrator, you can turn the turkey into jerky yourself.
• Merrick Pet Foods makes a canned "Thanksgiving Day Dinner" for dogs and one for cats that contains ingredients including turkey, sweet potatoes, carrots and apples.
• Holiday plants such as mistletoe, holly, hibiscus and lilies can be toxic and even fatal if swallowed by cats and dogs. Poinsettias can cause stomach upset and skin or eye irritation.