How to keep your pets safe during Thanksgiving

NEW YORK –Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with it comes a day full of delicious dinners and time spent with loved ones, including our four-legged friends.

With this in mind, Best Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare advocacy organization, has compiled a list to help pet owners keep their furry friends safe and happy this Thanksgiving.

• Leftovers to give: Too many rich, greasy, or just plain new foods can upset a pet’s stomach. Worse yet, they can even cause pancreatitis, which can be life-threatening for your pet. Instead, try encouraging guests to hand out tasty ready-made pet treats or a fun toy instead of leftover food.
• Say no to bones: Never allow your dog or cat to chew on bird bones, as they can break or splinter in a pet’s stomach and be fatal. Be sure to throw away the bones immediately in a closed trash can.
• Avoid a Dessert Disaster: Remember that chocolate is toxic to dogs and should be kept out of their reach. However, it is not the only food that can be poisonous to dogs. Other dangerous foods include onions, raisins and grapes, all of which can be part of Christmas dishes. That’s why it’s important to avoid feeding your pets leftover Christmas food.
• Maintain cleanliness: Pets are curious and because of this, food-flavored products can be too tempting for them, leading your furry friends to eat things they shouldn’t, which can lead to stomach injuries. Because of this, Best Friends Animal Society recommends making sure you throw away grooming items as soon as they are no longer needed. Additionally, other potentially harmful items should be kept on high surfaces and out of reach.

In addition to the above safety tips provided by Best Friends Animal Society, the American Veterinary Medical Association (or AVMA) makes additional recommendations, including:

• Do not feed your pets yeast doughas it can cause health problems, such as painful gas and potentially dangerous bloating.
• Don’t feed your pets anything that contains the artificial sweetener xylitol.which is commonly used in sugar-free gum and baked goods and can be fatal if ingested by dogs or cats.
• Be careful with decorative plants, as some can be toxic to pets. For a list of harmful plants, the ASPCA has lists of plants that are toxic to dogs and cats. However, the safest thing you can do is simply keep pets away from all plants and table decorations.
• If you think your pet has been poisoned or has eaten something it shouldn’t, call your veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic immediately.. You can also call the ASPCA Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). Sudden changes in behavior, depression, discomfort, pain, vomiting and/or diarrhea are some of the signs that something may be wrong with your furry friend.

Making sure your pets don’t eat something harmful isn’t the only thing you need to keep an eye on during Thanksgiving and the holiday season to make sure your dog or cat is safe. If you’re hosting, it’s also important to consider your pet’s stress level.

• Thanksgiving and the holidays often mean many visitors at once and higher than usual noise and activity levels. This can upset your pet, a very common problem. If you know your dog or cat is nervous when people visit, according to the AVMA, pet owners should place them in another room or in a cage with their favorite toy to reduce the pet’s emotional stress and protect guests, since any dog ​​can potentially bite. According to the AVMA, it is also a good idea that if your pet is especially bothered by visitors, talk to your veterinarian about possible solutions.
• Additionally, if any guests have a weakened immune system, make sure they are aware of the pets in their home so they can take necessary precautions.
• Be sure to keep an eye on exits because when people come and go from your home, your pet may take the opportunity to escape.
• Make sure your pet is microchipped with identification and current contact information.
• Watch your pets around holiday decorations, including candles.