Thanksgiving, A time to be thankful and a time to be careful!

Turkey is a great ting for us, but can cause some stomach troubles in our pets! (Image Source)

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! With this comes great food, time with family and friends and the excitement of entering the holiday season!

There are many creative ways to show your pet your are thankful for them without giving them table food! (Image Source)

While this is such a fun and happy time for us, it is important that to remember that it can be a stressful or hazardous time for our pets! There are a few things to keep in mind to keep your holiday happy and fun!

This is a trip to the vet's office waiting to happen! (Image Source)

If you are expecting company, remember to keep your pets collar and identification on and up to date. Every time the door opens that is an opportunity for your pet to slip out! You should also pay attention to your pet's activity and body language when you have visitors. Many pets are very excited and happy to see company, however some can become stressed. It is a good idea to have a place they can go to feel safe and quiet and relax for a little while away from the buzz of activity.

Definitely not a good idea for your pet! (Image Source)

Food is usually one of the main focuses of Thanksgiving! It is a way we can all come together and celebrate. Many of the foods we will be preparing may prove to be VERY tempting even for the best behaved pet. When cooking it is a good idea to keep pets away from the kitchen. Those delicious smells could prove to be just too tempting for them! Many of the foods we are preparing could be WAY too rich for our pets leading to stomach upset. This would include the skin from turkey or of the other meats and their seasonings. Although they may give you the saddest eyes, stay strong and resist the temptation to give them table scraps! It is also VERY important to NEVER give your pets bones of ANY meat. Poultry bones are especially bad as they can splinter easily. Nothing will ruin the holiday festivities like a trip the Animal Emergency Room.

This cat will not be happy if he eats this! (Image Source)

Other foods to be careful about your pet getting into include raisins and grapes. No one know exactly why or how much of these fruits it requires, but ingestion of grapes or raisins, can lead to kidney disease very quickly in some of our pets. Another hazard is chocolate. It is the time of year where sweets are becoming very popular! Be sure to keep them away from your pets! Again, it is better for our pets to just stick with their normal diet and not make any changes, especially around the holidays.

Keep all food safely away from your pet! (Image Source)

There are many foods that can cause upset stomach or other more serious issues in our pets. We would recommend sticking with their normal diet and treats ESPECIALLY during the stressful holiday season. If you pet does accidentally get into something they are not supposed to it is best to contact your veterinarian immediately or call the ASPCA poison control  hotline.

(Image Source)

We hope you and your pets have a very Happy Thanksgiving!