No blessing is better than having a healthy, happy pet. Continue that trend throughout the holiday season and for years to come by preventing your furry pal from experiencing an emergency during the Thanksgiving festivities. Read our Aberdeen Veterinary Clinic team’s tips.

#1: Keep your pet away from the Thanksgiving feast

A Thanksgiving highlight—and hazard—is the holiday feast. Although your pet may be scoping out a prime begging spot under the table, you would be wise to keep them well away from any dropped or shared table scraps. Many favorite feast foods are dangerous for pets, so ensure your four-legged friend keeps their paws off the following items:

  • Turkey — Turkey skin and bones might seem like the ideal treat to share with your pet, but fatty, seasoned meat and fragile bones can create serious problems for your furry pal. Foods high in fat can trigger pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening illness, while bone shards can pierce or become lodged in your pet’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
  • Casseroles and side dishes — Comfort foods are an essential part of the Thanksgiving feast, but they shouldn’t make it to your pet’s bowl. Many of these dishes have large amounts of butter, cream, and flavorful, yet toxic, ingredients. Pets are typically lactose-intolerant, plus their bodies cannot handle the excessive fat content in mashed potatoes, gravy, and casseroles. In addition, onions, garlic, and chives are toxic to pets, destroying red blood cells and causing anemia.
  • Desserts — If you have swapped out sugar for xylitol to sweeten your pies, cakes, and cookies, your desserts will actually be more dangerous for your pet. Found in many baked goods, the sweetener xylitol can cause your pet to experience severe hypoglycemia and liver failure. In addition, chocolate is toxic to pets.
  • Unbaked yeast dough — As the dough for your grandmother’s famous yeast bread rises on the counter, your pet might gobble down the sticky mass during their counter-surfing adventure. When the dough expands in your pet’s warm stomach, it releases alcohol and carbon dioxide, leading to alcohol poisoning and a bloated stomach.

#2: Prevent your pet from nosing into your trash can

If you think your pet’s toxicity threat has passed once you clear the last dish from the Thanksgiving table, think again. A determined pet can easily knock over or nose into a trash can to scrounge for scraps, whether or not they are edible. Take out your trash early and often to keep the bin from overflowing and tempting your pet, and ensure the trash can lid is always secured, or the bin is behind a closed door. In addition to leftovers, your pet may ingest hazardous food preparation items such as:

  • Turkey twine, brine, and drippings
  • Grease-covered foil
  • Onion, garlic, and chive scraps
  • Eggshells
  • Raw meat
  • Bones

#3: Choose your table centerpiece with your pet’s wellbeing in mind

Your holiday table’s centerpiece draws just as much attention as the surrounding mouthwatering dishes, and the decoration can be just as dangerous to your pet as the foods. Avoid adding the following potential hazards to your Thanksgiving centerpiece:

  • Toxic plants — Although gorgeous, many seasonal blooms can cause varying levels of toxicity to your pet. Before designing the ultimate centerpiece, check the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) toxic plants list and ensure you avoid floral arrangements that include chrysanthemums and autumn crocuses. 
  • Burning candles — Flickering flames add a touch of whimsy to your autumnal centerpiece, but burning candles placed too close to foliage can spark a fire, as can an inquisitive pet. To prevent singed whiskers, burned paws, and house fires, use battery-powered candles.
  • Choking hazards — Gourds, pumpkins, corncobs, and other seasonal plant material can obstruct your pet’s airway or GI tract if they ingest any of these items.

#4: Give your pet a safe space

Houseguests, familiar and unfamiliar, often cause pets stress and anxiety. Give your four-legged friend a safe space in which to relax that is off-limits to anyone with two legs. Leave a TV or radio on, or play some white noise to help drown out the celebratory commotion. Ensure your pet has a cozy spot in which to curl up or a hideout in which to hole up. Provide a tasty distraction, such as an interactive treat puzzle, that will keep your pet occupied during your party. To avoid disturbing your pet during the festivities, check on them remotely by placing a camera in their room.

We are just as thankful as you are for your pet’s continued good health. Allow us to help keep your furry pal in tip-top shape this holiday season and beyond by scheduling their regular wellness care with our Aberdeen Veterinary Clinic team.