Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Your Beloved Pets

  Posted on November 23, 2009  by Joy of Living  No comments

The smell alone of a wonderful Thanksgiving feast being prepared may put your dog into overdrive.  Think of all those delicious aromas drifting through the house, tempting him and making him act crazy.  What is a dog to do?

Although tempting, do not feed any bits of turkey to your dog.  Stick to his normal feeding routine.  Turkey can produce some unwanted side effects in dogs, such as pain, cramping, and diarrhea.  You don’t want that to ruin your holiday weekend.

Advise your family and guests to refrain from feeding food from the table to your dog.  Those things high in sodium, such as chips and nuts, as well as fatty foods such as poultry skin, beef, or port fat can contribute to an inflammation of the pancreas.  That can lead to pancreatitis, a life-threatening disease.

Be sure to throw away any aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or wax paper.  Your dog could get to these and lick off the residue and potentially swallow the covering, leading to an intestinal blockage.  On this note, secure your garabge.  Tie things up well.  Within a minute, your hungry pooch can get into your garbage, scarfing down anything and everything that could harm him.

Turkey bones pose  a significant threat, too. A brittle, spiky bone could get caught in the dog’s esophagus or cause an irritation to the stomach or intestines.

Minimize your dog’s stress by keeping to his schedule.  Keep with the flow of his daily exercise routine and feeding schedule.  Pay attention to your dog as much as possible so he does not feel neglected during this busy holiday season.

Keep a vigilant eye on his water bowl.  Make sure it is freshly supplied.  A busy houshold during the holidays can make one forget this important detail.

Allow some private time for your pet.  Get him away from all of the company and fanfare.  Let him find solace in a quiet room for awhile, away from the noise.  He needs downtime, too.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday this year!  It is always a blessing to have healthy pets.  Be sure to contact the pet sitting experts at Joy of Living Pet Sitting Services in Kansas City.  They will help to keep your pets happy and healthy during the holiday season and all year long!

(Information for this post found at www.doggienews.com.)