How to keep Thanksgiving dinner from posing a threat to your pet

How to keep your pets safe from holiday-table hazards

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know that today will be a whirlwind as you get ready to celebrate with family and friends.

But there are some family members you may not be thinking about — until, that is, your fuzzy friend starts poking you with a cold nose or giving you those irresistible puppy dog eyes!

That’s when you might be tempted to offer your four-legged friend something from your Thanksgiving feast. And while that isn’t always a bad thing, there are some important food “rules” to remember where Fluffy and Buddy are concerned.

And by following them, I’m sure you’ll have a much better day tomorrow — out hunting for doorbuster bargains instead of frantically searching for a veterinary hospital that’s open!

Serving up trouble
I’m quite sure that dogs love Thanksgiving more than anyone else in the family.

Since their sense of smell is far superior to ours, the aromas wafting from the kitchen for hours on end can drive them crazy. I know my pups, Chance and Maci, must think all that cooking is going on just for them!

But while it’s only natural to want to share some of the fruits of your labors with your best friends, just make sure to watch what you’re dishing out to them.

Make up a Fido-friendly dish of plain, white meat turkey, unadorned sweet potatoes, and veggies such as carrots, broccoli, and string beans (none of that green bean casserole!). Since so many of our Thanksgiving sides are highly buttered and seasoned, it’s a good idea to set aside a dish of veggies for your pup to enjoy before you flavor them up.

And be sure to keep the portions small — relative to their size, of course!

While cats don’t seem to want to partake of fresh foods as much as dogs do, if your feline is one who does, the same rules apply.

Now, perhaps even more importantly, here’s what you shouldn’t be sharing with your pup or kitty:

Greasy foods that are very high in fat (such as stuffing, turkey skin, gravy, and pan drippings) can cause inflammation of the pancreas, which can make a dog or kitty extremely ill and in need of hospitalization.

Eating foods in the onion family (including dried as well as fresh garlic, chives, and leeks) can trigger an illness called “Heinz body anemia,” where the red blood cells break down. One of the worst aspects of that condition is that the tell-tale symptoms, such as weakness, severe vomiting, and diarrhea, as well as discolored urine, can take a few days to appear. (And cats are even more sensitive to the toxic effects of onions and garlic than dogs are.)

Any foods that contain the artificial sweetener xylitol are also potential threats to your pets. As I’ve warned you before, this low-cal sweetener, which can be found in baked goods, gum, candies, and even dog-friendly treats such as peanut butter, can kill a pup before you know what’s happening.

If you suspect that your dog or cat has consumed anything containing it, you need to get them to a vet hospital ASAP — even if they only ingested a tiny bit.

To prevent a lot more than the usual tummy upsets, keep these other foods out of your pet’s paws as well:

nuts, such as walnuts and macadamias, which can cause muscle tremors, vomiting, and weakness
raw poultry and meat
nutmeg, which can give dog seizures
poultry bones, which can easily splinter, causing damage to the stomach or intestines
raisins and grapes, which can be fatal to dogs in even small doses
chocolate, especially dark chocolate, which contains a substance called “theobromine” that can cause rapid breathing, an increased heart rate, and seizures and, in large enough doses, can be fatal.

And if, God forbid, you do find yourself in a possible pet emergency over the holidays, a good resource is the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. For a $65 consultation fee — which is well worth it — you can consult with an expert over the phone by calling (888) 426-4435.

“5 Thanksgiving foods that are not safe for cats and dogs” Kate Baggaley, Popular Science, popsci.com