How to keep your dog safe during Thanksgiving
Dogs love Thanksgiving, too.
And after a whole day smelling the aroma of that feast cooking in the kitchen, even the best trained pup will lose his table manners and insist on sharing some of the bounty.
But what you share with your dog on Thanksgiving can mean the difference between shopping for Black Friday bargains the next day and trying to find an open vet hospital.
So if you do give your best friend a taste of your Thanksgiving meal, keep the portions small and only offer a little plain, white meat turkey and “bare” cooked veggies like carrots, broccoli or string beans.
Things like mom’s amazing stuffing, turkey skin and rich gravy can easily cause a possibly life-threatening condition in dogs (and cats, too), called acute pancreatitis. While other things can bring it on, greasy, high-fat food is high on the list.
Some of the symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and refusal to eat or drink. Pancreatitis can put your dog in severe pain as well.
Other doggie Thanksgiving dangers include:
- Onions and garlic, which are usually added to stuffing, gravies and other side dishes, and can be very dangerous (especially true of onions) for dogs to consume.
- Certain nuts, like walnuts and macadamias, which should be on the “Never” list where you dog is concerned.
- Sweet potato and pumpkin pie — not because of the sweet potato and pumpkin, which is quite nutritious for them, but because of the nutmeg, which is highly toxic to dogs and can even give them seizures.
- Leftover cooking oil and pan drippings: What’s left in the turkey roasting pan is probably the most irresistible thing in the world to a dog. But it’s something that can easily bring on the pancreatitis I mentioned above.
Last, but certainly not least, don’t forget to dispose of all those turkey bones before Buddy or Fluffy find them, or you may have more than just a big garbage mess on your hands.
And happy Thanksgiving to you and all your family members — especially the ones with four legs!
Sources:
“Unbalanced diet, table scraps can cause pancreatitis in dogs” University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, vetmed.illinois.edu
