‘Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts—but also
for possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won’t be so thankful if
they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if
they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.
Check out the following tips from ASPCA experts for a fulfilling
Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too.
Talkin’
Turkey
If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it’s
boneless and well-cooked. Don't offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may
contain salmonella bacteria.
Sage
Advice
Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other
herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset
and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities.
Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.
No
Bread Dough
Don't spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to
ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes
the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience
vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a
life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.
Don't
Let Them Eat Cake
If you’re baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out
of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella
bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.
Too
Much of a Good Thing
A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even
a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn’t pose a problem. However, don't allow your pets
to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or
even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In
fact, it’s best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.
A
Feast Fit for a Kong
While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little
feast. Offer them Nylabones or made-for-pet chew bones. Or stuff their usual
dinner—perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato
or green beans) and dribbles of gravy—inside a Kong toy. They’ll be happily
occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.
This is the time to take a closer
look at your pet's dental health. Dental health is a very important part
of your pet’s overall health. Dental problems can often cause or be
caused by other health problems. This is why each year we raise
awareness of the importance of veterinary dentistry though our extended
Pet Dental Month incentives.
