Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips

‘Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts. However, along with the holidays come some unique dangers for our pets. Munching on under-cooked turkey, chewing on a floral arrangement or slurping up an unattended alcoholic drink can cause a world of trouble.   Check out the following tips from the ASPCA for a happy 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 them raw or under-cooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.   Sage Advice Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delicious, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression in 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 them raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in their 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 potatoes 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. While it can be hard to resist their adorable begging, the best advice is to 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. You can also hide a few tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy inside a Kong toy. They’ll be happily occupied while working hard to get their treat.