5 Tips for Pet Safety During Thanksgiving

We are all aware that food is king on this particular holiday. Your pet will likely stop at the kitchen counter or dining room table where family favorites are being prepared or displayed. Or he’ll get into the garbage while the humans are distracted by their televisions.

As a responsible pet parent, you can plan for the Thanksgiving holiday in ways that are both enjoyable for humans and safe for your furry family members.

Please don’t feed them people food such as turkey, garlic, onion, leeks, and chives.

Unfortunately, far too many pet owners enjoy feeding their pets people food. Any food that isn’t a regular part of a pet’s diet, especially fatty foods like ham, gravy, dark turkey meat, and turkey skin, can cause diarrhea and pancreatitis, and some human foods can even poison your pets.

Avoid giving your pet turkey meat, particularly fatty dark meat and skin (a small amount of unseasoned white meat is acceptable), and never give them leftover bones. Bones are not only a choking hazard but can also splinter inside your pet’s digestive tract, necessitating a trip to the emergency vet.

Seasonings are common in many Thanksgiving dishes and are toxic to dogs and cats, causing red blood cell destruction. Avoid feeding your pet anything made with these ingredients, such as green beans, potatoes, stuffing, or gravy.

Avoid giving them desserts containing raw bread dough, chocolates, or artificial sweeteners.

Because the yeast in the dough causes it to rise and expand, eating unbaked yeast dough can cause a stomach blockage. Furthermore, the natural fermentation of yeast in your cat or dog’s stomach can result in alcohol poisoning. If you’re planning on baking some delicious dinner rolls for Thanksgiving, make sure to proof your dough somewhere your pet can’t get to it, such as in a turned-off oven or microwave, rather than right on the counter, where it’s often within easy reach of your pet.

It would help if you kept desserts such as pies, fruitcakes, and cookies out of your pet’s reach. Chocolate is known to be toxic to dogs and cats, but so are raisins, currants, and the popular sugar substitute xylitol. Even in small amounts, xylitol is toxic to dogs, so keep that slice of keto/diabetic/sugar-free pie to yourself.

Even if your pet does not drink the spiked punch, he can become ill from eating unbaked yeast dough. To make the dough rise, yeast releases ethanol and carbon dioxide. This same action can result in severe bloating due to gas release and possible poisoning due to a pet’s inability to process the ethanol.

Keep your pets away from the bags of your guests.

Houseguests bring everything with them, and handbags, backpacks, or suitcases can be dangerous to your pets if they stick their noses where they don’t belong. Sugar-free xylitol gum, candy bars, and human medication can all ruin your holiday plans if your pet consumes them. To protect your pets, have guests hang their bags on hooks rather than leaving them on the floor, and keep the guest room door closed.

Provide a separate area for your pet away from guests

The constant presence of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins can be stressful for pets (even more so than for you). Dogs have a strong sense of routine, and some become anxious when their routines change.

Understand what your dog or cat is going through. Remember, it’s also their home. Allow Fido to mingle if he enjoys socializing. If he isn’t comfortable with a lot of noise, confine him in his crate or give him his room in the house to relax in, such as a den, bedroom, or basement, for some peace.

Keep decorations out of reach.

While some decorations, such as those made of cardboard, are pet-safe, others can be hazardous.

Keep pets away from plastic decorations such as faux plants and scented candles with hot wax, which can cause burns. Using battery-operated candles instead of real flames is a simple solution.

Keep pets away from any plants that may harm them.

Your cat may suffer from acute renal failure due to the lily bouquet you received from your guests. Bittersweet flowers, frequently used in fall floral arrangements, can cause gastrointestinal upset. Candles can cause burns, and flameless candles contain batteries, which, if consumed, can cause gastrointestinal burns and corrosive injury. Be cautious when using decorative plants. Remember that some flowers and holiday plants can be toxic to pets. Amaryllis, Baby’s Breath, Sweet William, ferns, hydrangeas, and other plants are among them. If you suspect your pet has been poisoned or eaten something it shouldn’t have, contact your veterinarian or a local veterinary emergency clinic immediately.

Thanksgiving is a great time to relax and celebrate with your friends, family, and pets! If you’re planning on having a feline, canine, or other furry friends over for Thanksgiving this year, make sure you’re prepared to keep them safe.