Thanksgiving is an enjoyable time of the year and while you may be tempted to share the festivities with your pet, it is not such a good idea. Thanksgiving can actually pose many dangers to dogs and cats, and some holiday foods can even be toxic for them:
Thanksgiving and Pets
Described below are some of the best pet safety tips to help keep your four-legged friend safe during your celebrations:
Allow Your Pet to Exercise
A great way to wear dogs out before festivities is to spend some time in the late morning playing a game of catch. Other things you may consider include playing tug-of-war or walking your pet around the block a couple of times. In this way, your dog will be more likely to remain calm when visitors begin to arrive.
Prepare a Quiet Retreat
At times, visitors may cause your pet to become quite nervous and even frightened. As such, if you plan on having company for your Thanksgiving meal, you will want to prepare a quiet retreat away from all of the commotion where your dog or cat will be safe. Be sure to place your pet’s favorite bed, toys and a water dish in the room as well.
Thanksgiving Foods and Pets
Some of the biggest dangers to your pet during Thanksgiving are various foods that are often associated with the holiday. First of all, it is never okay to give turkey bones to your dog or cat as they can cause choking, obstructions or intestinal damage. Additionally, turkey skin is known to encourage the development of pancreatitis in pets. Other Thanksgiving foods that can be harmful to your pet are listed below:
- Stuffing
- Grapes and Raisins
- Onions
- Chocolate
- Alcohol, Coffee and Tea
- Cookie Dough, Bread Dough and Cake Batter
- Nuts
- Spicy and Excessively Greasy Foods
Cleaning Up After Dinner
It cannot be stressed enough that you should never leave your trash where your pet can get to it after you finish cleaning up. Dogs and cats love the aromas that come from garbage, and they may very well try to tip your trash can over. Unfortunately, many trash items left over from your Thanksgiving meal can be quite harmful to your pet. Some of these items are listed here:
- Turkey Pop-Up Timers
- Turkey Strings
- Turkey Bones
- Bottle Caps
- Pop Tabs
- Six-Pack Beverage Ring Holders
- Straws
As the Thanksgiving holiday draws near, it is important that you do not forget about pet safety concerns if you have a dog or cat. There are many aspects of Thanksgiving that can be very dangerous to pets, especially the foods you may choose to cook. However, if you follow the valuable tips described above, you can be sure that your pet will be safe during this cherished time of year. Happy Thanksgiving and read here how to choose the best cat and dog food.
