With the Thanksgiving weekend just ahead of us, be prepared when your pet comes begging. While it is tempting to give your dog or cat some lean protein and veggies, it can also be dangerous. Fatty foods and trimmings can cause Pancreatitis in dogs at worst and diarrhea or vomiting at “best.
On its own, turkey skin can be fatty and hard to digest, worse yet think of all the butter, and spices rubbed onto it. Peel the skin off and cut the meat up into bite-sized pieces. Also, consider choosing the white meat over the dark – it’s a little blander and easier to digest.
Do not give your dog a bone. Turkey bones are soft and hollow so they can splinter easily, causing damage and/or an obstruction to your pet’s digestive tract.
Don’t spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him access to raw yeast bread dough. Did you know that when a dog or cat ingests raw bread dough, the yeast continues to convert the sugars in the dough to carbon dioxide gas and alcohol. This can result in bloated drunken pets, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring hospitalization.
Keep the tempting garbage out of reach of your dog. A frustrated pet who can’t get a scrap out of his usually-generous parents may be tempted to dig around the trash bin.
If you are having visiting guests that may be new to your home keep in mind that some people are afraid of dogs, and some dogs are afraid of strange people. Holiday guests often accidentally leave doors open, letting dogs escape. Everyone should be reminded to be gentle with dogs and keep doors shut.
It’s a great idea to take dogs on a long walk before the Thanksgiving dinner. This helps reduce their pent-up energy and makes the dog much more likely to be calm during the family feast. And remember, it’s okay to give a dog a few table scraps from the holiday dinner, but be careful not to go overboard.
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