Keeping pets safe at Thanksgiving | Living Well Blog

We?re hoping for a boring holiday season in our family this year. ?Boring? as in, no emergency calls to the vet, like the year that my sister?s Bichon?wolfed down?an entire chicken he dug out of the garbage can?plastic wrap and all. Or the Christmas my new puppy jumped up on the coffee table and ate all the chocolates in an Advent calendar, then regifted them to me in every room in the house.

Yes, Thanksgiving is a great time of the year for the whole family,?but it can also be a dangerous time for pets.? Those delicious aromas coming out of the kitchen don?t attract just the humans in your life. So do your four-legged family members a favor this season: make sure they stay?safe.?Dr. Mendi Hill of Banfield Pet Hospital Dallas?offers a?few tips to protect your pet and avoid a visit to the veterinarian this year:

-Table scraps covered in rich gravy and fatty poultry skin can?give your pet a severely upset stomach. Some common signs and symptoms of distress include vomiting, diarrhea and excessive gas. If you want to treat your pet, it?s best to stick to a pet?bone or a?few bites of lean poultry or unsalted and unbuttered vegetables.

-Avoid giving your pet bones from holiday birds. Although bones look good to your pet, they are dangerous and can cause an upset stomach and may even splinter once digested. This can cause injury and even blockage of the intestines.

-Dispose of any turkey or other food packaging quickly and appropriately. All strings, plastic holders and bags that have a meat smell to them can be very attractive to your pet. Once ingested, they can cause damage or blockage of the intestines.

-Chocolate contains theobromine, a substance that can be poisonous to your pet. Dark, semi-sweet and Baker?s chocolate can be lethal if ingested. Caramel apple sticks can be swallowed and cause choking or an intestinal blockage, as can candy wrappers and packaging. Candy can upset the stomach, resulting in diarrhea or vomiting. Be sure to keep chocolate and sweets well out of the reach of inquisitive pets.

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Source: http://livingwellblog.dallasnews.com/2012/11/keeping-pets-safe-at-thanksgiving.html/

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