11/27/2024
Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips
The holiday season is synonymous with delicious meals, but many Thanksgiving foods pose a risk to our pets, particularly dogs. Understanding the common health risks can help you prevent unwanted trips to the vet and keep your dog happy and healthy during the holiday.
Toxic foods
A lot of the traditional Thanksgiving dishes we love are harmful to dogs. Foods like turkey skin, fatty trimmings, garlic, onions, and grapes are toxic to pets. Eating large amounts of fatty foods, like turkey skin and fatty trimmings, can lead to a serious medical condition called pancreatitis. Additionally, garlic and onions contain compounds that can damage your dog’s red blood cells, leading to anemia. Even stuffing is dangerous for your pet since it’s often seasoned with garlic and onions.
Bones and choking hazards
Cooked bones, like turkey bones, pose a serious risk to dogs because they can be a choking hazard and splinter and cause internal damage. The bones can also get stuck in your dog’s digestive tract, leading to blockages that may require surgical intervention. Always ensure that bones and anything used to wrap the turkey carcass, like strings, are safely disposed of where your dog can’t access them.
Rich or sugary foods
The rich, sugary desserts we look forward to eating all year, such as pies and chocolate treats, are all high risks for dogs. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and even small amounts can cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, seizures. Pies containing sugar, butter, or artificial sweeteners like xylitol can also be harmful.
Overeating
With so much food around, it’s easy for pets to overeat, which can lead to gastrointestinal issues, like vomiting and diarrhea. Make sure to monitor what your pet is eating, and if you want to treat them, stick to small portions of plain turkey (without the skin) and unseasoned vegetables, like carrots or green beans.