Tips for a Safe Thanksgiving
The mouth-watering smells of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie slowly wafting through the house this Thanksgiving is enough to drive you (and your pets) crazy! However, with delicious human food comes serious risk for your pets. Prairie Ridge Veterinary Clinic is here to provide owners with some Thanksgiving Pet Safety TipsĀ to pet-proof your home this holiday season and keep your furr-amily safe from hazardous foods.
Pet-Proofing is Easy
- Keep pets out of the kitchen or crate them in a room where they are comfortable. Give them food-stuffable toys or other interactive toys to help prevent boredom and keep them busy.
- Do not allow family and friends to feed your pets table scraps. Some people are not familiar with how poisonous some common household foods are to animals. Have designated healthy and safe treats available (a small piece of cheese or carrot) for family members to give infrequently.
- Be sure to empty the trash occasionally through the day or keepĀ garbage containers covered securely. Somehow, sneaky pets are excellent at finding ways to get leftovers they shouldn’t have such as, turkey skin and bones, out of the garbage can. “Garbage gut” can cause a variety of problems such as gastroenteritis (abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea) pancreatitis (severe inflammation of the pancreas) and even a gastrointestinal blockage.
Thanksgiving Treats to Share
Not all Thanksgiving foods are dangerous and after all, it’s a holiday for your pets too! Here are some safe, non-toxic treats you can give your cat or dog this holiday season.
- Small amounts of turkey breast are safe for pets. Ideally, avoid any fatty snacks such as turkey skin, gravy, and trimmings as these can over stimulate the pancreas and cause pancreatitis.
- Vegetables are healthy for pets also. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, and green beans are all healthy treat choices for pets as long as they are not slathered in fatty gravy and butter.
- Small pieces of baked bread are a relatively low-calorie treat for dogs but keep unbaked dough out of reach as this can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), bloat, and alcohol poisoning.
- Minute amounts of cooked salmon are okay to give both cats and dogs. Be mindful of bones if you decide to give your pet any type of cooked fish.
- Say cheese! Small amounts of cheese are okay for both dogs and cats, in moderation. There is a minimal amount of lactose in cheese versus milk so the occasional piece of cheese is safe.
Absolutely Not!
Be absolutely certain your house guests are aware what they can and cannot feed your pet. Make sure they do not offer any of the following foods.
- Xylitol is a natural sugar-free sweetener that is very popular in a variety of foods such as baked goods, peanut butter, gum, and mints. Always check the label to make sure foods you give your dog or cat are free of this product.
- Fatty scraps such as gravy and turkey skin can cause pancreatitis and gastroenteritis. When in doubt, do not feed it to your pet!
- Be sure to keep all alcoholic beverages up and away from pets. Accidental consumption can result in slowed respiration, life-threatening low blood sugar and severe coma in dogs.
Be a Watchdog
Knowing what foods to avoid and the warning signs of potential illnesses (vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, visible pain, weakness) is a great way to watch out for your pet this Thankgiving. Show thanks to your furry family members by giving small amounts of these non-toxic treats but remember, giving too much of a good thing can result in gastroenteritis, colitis, pancreatitis, or worse. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call us at 309-543-2091. From your friends at Prairie Ridge Veterinary Clinic, have a Happy Thanksgiving!
“Dr. Yetter’s professional & compassionate care enabled us to have Lady as a member of our family for over 17 years. Through his knowledge, extensive research, and willingness to reach out, he provided Lady with a long quality life in spite of numerous health issues. We are eternally grateful.”
— Diane & Terry Svob
“Dr. Yetter and the staff at Prairie Ridge have given excellent care to my family of pets for about 20 years. I always feel comfortable asking questions and knowing I will get complete, caring answers. Dr. Yetter researches to find the best treatment options. My cats and dog are family to me, and we trust Prairie Ridge Veterinary Clinic.”
—Janis Blout
“We are so grateful for the hard work and extra research Dr. Yetter did for our Tansy-cat to find out why she wasn’t eating. If there is a time when your most precious friend is ill and you need to trust someone to care for them, Dr. Yetter is definitely that person! He went above and beyond to do everything he could to save our beautiful Tansy.”
— Tom & Bev Berberett
“My pets have been patients of Dr. Yetter and his great staff for many years, and I have always been grateful for their efficiency and helpfulness. Having good care right here in Havana is a big plus!”
— Jan McFarlin
“I began to bring in my labs into PRVC when I started working there, and was happy to have such a caring and knowledgeable doctor to take care of two of my best friends. It always amazes me just how much care goes into each and every animal, let alone the perseverance of Dr. Yetter and staff (I should call them family) in working out how to treat each and every problem.”
— Chris Johnson