Thanksgiving is an exciting time with fun-filled family gatherings and delicious food. Pets are an important part of the family and often find themselves in the middle of the holiday festivities. While we all want our pets to enjoy themselves, keeping them safe is always a top priority. With the most common holiday mishaps in mind, we’ve put together some holiday safety tips to help keep your pet out of trouble during this joyous season.
Avoid Table Scraps
When you think of Thanksgiving, you probably imagine a table filled with food. All of this delicious food can be a tempting treat for your pets. However, some of this food may be toxic to your pet.
Common foods that are toxic to pets include:
- Onions
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Chocolate
- Macadamia Nuts
Unfortunately, toxic foods aren’t the only danger when it comes to Thanksgiving food. Foods that are high in fat can be difficult for pets to digest and cause a life-threatening condition known as pancreatitis. Turkey skin is one of the top causes of pancreatitis in dogs during the Thanksgiving Holiday. To reduce the risk, avoid feeding table scraps altogether.
Some pets are sneaky and try to grab a tempting treat when you’re not looking. Make sure food is always kept out of your pet’s reach, and never leave food unattended. Keep trash in a secured container to ensure there is no dumpster diving for leftovers.
Even with careful planning, we understand that accidents happen. If you think your pet has gotten into something they shouldn’t have, please give us a call at 651-202-3388. We can help you determine if your pet needs medical attention. You can also contact the Pet Poison Hotline at 855-764-7661 for 24/7 assistance.
Move Coats and Handbags to a Safe Spot
If you are hosting guests, there may be an excess of handbags and coats lying around. While this may seem harmless, these items can contain an assortment of dangers for your pet, including medication, hand sanitizer, nicotine products, and sugar-free candy or gum. All of these products should be kept far out of your pet’s reach.
Sugar-free products commonly contain an ingredient known as xylitol. Xylitol is highly toxic to pets, and consuming it in even small amounts can be fatal.
Designate a room or closet for everyone’s belongings to prevent your pet from getting into any unforeseen dangers. Make sure this location is secure and out of your pet’s reach.
Double Check Your Doors
Thanksgiving visitors may also mean lots of opening doors. Unfortunately, this can lead to accidental pet escapes.
To avoid this, block your pet’s access to the door people will be using. Consider keeping your pet in a closed room while people are coming and going. Smaller pets should be kept in their crates or enclosures when large groups of people are around.
Remind guests to be mindful of pets when opening and closing doors. Always check that all doors and gates have been secured before letting your pets roam freely again.
Enjoy the Day!
The holidays are an exciting time. We hope these tips will help keep your pets safe as you enjoy your Thanksgiving celebrations. For additional pet safety tips, you can check out our Holiday Safety guide Holiday Safety Guide.
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