Thanksgiving Safety Tips

It is Thanksgiving Day; you are surrounded by family and friends. You hear the sound of a crackling log in the fireplace and smell the aromas of the feast laid out before you. All of the fixings: stuffing, green bean casserole, rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, and roasted squash. Children trying to snag a taste of the freshly baked pies including pumpkin, pecan, apple, and chocolate cream as they make their way to the dessert table. The main event catches your full attention as the long awaited turkey makes a debut in all of its golden glory and your beloved dog patiently waiting underfoot for the remnants of your thanksgiving dinner. But what you don’t know is that the delicious morsels that Fido is waiting for could be dangerous to him.

Take a look at the following tips from ASPCA experts for a  great 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 her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.
Sage Advice
Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to 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 him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his 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 potato 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. In fact, it’s best 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. Or stuff their usual dinner—perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy—inside a Kong toy. They’ll be happily occupied for a while, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.

Holidays are for bringing family and friends together, to give thanks for everything in our lives. So, this Thanksgiving Day take the opportunity to give thanks for the animals in your lives. The scruffy dog that wakes you every morning with a lick to your cheek or the calico cat that keeps your feet warm while you sleep on cold nights. Our faithful furry friends that will always be there us no matter what.




. "Thanksgiving Safety Tips." ASPCA. ASPCA. Web. 13 Nov 2012. <http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/thanksgiving-safety-tips.asp&xgt;.