Happy Thanksgiving (Pet Safety)

Last year I concentrated on the history of Thanksgiving so this year I thought I would concentrate on the pets.

Normally I would get envious of all my American friends celebrating Thanksgiving and eating all that turkey because we don't celebrate it in the UK, but not this year and here's why because this year we're off to the Lake District on holiday from the 21st December - 4th January 2014 so Cody and Coco have to go in the Cattery for 2 weeks which Mum and Dad aren't happy with but can't be helped so they've brought Christmas forward this year so we can all celebrate as a family together Christmas tree up early, presents under the tree early for the cats I bet I wont get to open up mine early but the main advantage is I get 2 Christmases one with Cody and Coco and one on Christmas day when were away which means two lots of turkey I'm going to be one spoiled Doggy but I won't complain.

I will have to try and not make the same mistake as last year, when Dad said do I fancy a night time walk before bed so I can relieve myself I never knew it was a secret code for do I fancy going the pub while he has a quick pint, I don't know how to take it being used for an excuse so he can go the pub but extra turkey on my plate at Christmas might compensate for it, I slipped up one night though Dad was watching TV so Mum walked me everything was going fine though until we walked past the pub and I dragged Mum in I thought it was just part of the routine.

Now for the important stuff.

Infographic provided by Doggie Health Insurance.

As in all cases prevention is better than cure, keep leftover food out of reach and in tightly secured containers and keep garbage containers secure so pets can't get into them and chew on tin foil, baking string and anything else that might be bad for them.        

• Cooked bones can splinter and cause tears or obstruction in a pet's digestive tract.
• Baking strings, if ingested, can create trouble if ingested by your pet.
• Onions in holiday stuffing can lead to canine anaemia if consumed by your dog.
• Grapes and raisin toxins can cause kidney failure in pets.
• Ingesting chocolate can kill your pet.
• Caffeine and alcohol are also toxic for pets.
• Keep all goodies out of reach!  
• Rich, fatty foods (turkey skins, gravy, etc,) can contribute to pancreatitis. This inflammation of the digestive gland is painful and can be serious--requiring emergency veterinary assistance.     

Before you sit down to feast,  take away temptation-from both guests and pets. If you feed pets before the guests arrive you reduce the temptation for begging and stealing and they will more than likely sleep with having a full tummy. You can also use a pet gate or play pen to house the pet nearby, but provide a safety barrier.

One of the easiest ways to avoid trouble is to make sure your guests know the pet rules and discourage them from feeding pets scraps from the table.  The best approach is to make sure any animal is occupied with a chew or playmates in another room. Once the table is cleared, make sure pets cannot get to scraps or bones.

Make sure all house guests know the house rules regarding your pets, they might not have pets of there own and don't realise the dangers, most guests like to make a fuss of our pets so to make things easier place bowls of dog and cat treats around the house so they can treat them safely at the same warning them of the dangers of feeding human  food high in sodium such as peanuts and fatty foods (like poultry skin or fat) can cause the inflammation of the pancreas. Pancreatitis is potentially life-threatening condition.)

Infographic provided by PetCare

There's no reason why dogs and cats can't enjoy the holiday season as long as we use common sense and everyone obeys the rules and remember to serve up smaller portions of there normal food to compensate for the extra treats they might receive.

• If you’re going to be adding unusual foods to your pet’s diet on Thanksgiving, do so in moderation.
• Stay away from turkey skins, as these aren't good for pets!
• Feed your pet less of their usual food on days when they’ll be getting extra goodies. Overeating is uncomfortable for humans, but can be very serious in dogs. Gastric torsion, or twisting of the stomach, can occur when a dog overindulges. Pancreatitis can occur when they have foods that are too rich, like the turkey skins mentioned above. These conditions can be expensive for you, and uncomfortable or even deadly for them.
• Mix table scraps in with reduced portions of the food they’re used to. This can help ease digestion.
• Share Thanksgiving foods at the pet’s meal time, and in their food bowl, instead of handing them tiny bits throughout the day. This should help stave off unwanted behaviours like constant begging. It will also help you keep track of how much your pet is actually eating. A little here and a little there can add up to a lot -- just ask any Weight Watcher!

THANKSGIVING FOODS THAT ARE NOT SAFE TO SHARE WITH YOUR CAT OR DOG

Avoid these ingredients, always:

• Raw poultry
• Turkey skin
• Butter and oils
• Bones, especially cooked bones, which are likely to splinter
• Alcohol: beer, wine, or anything else
• Nuts, especially walnuts or macadamia nuts
• Sweets like cookies, pie, and cake
• Onions, or anything with onion in it, even if the onions are cooked or macerated
• Garlic
• Some mushrooms (so to be safe, avoid all mushrooms)
• Some herbs like sage and nutmeg

THANKSGIVING FOODS THAT ARE SAFE TO SHARE WITH YOUR PET

These foods can be safely shared with your beloved cat or dog on Thanksgiving. Remember to moderate for your pet, even if it’s hard to do for yourself.

• Turkey, boneless
• Whole raw eggs
• Sweet potato or yams, as long as there’s no onions or cream involved
• Canned pureed pumpkin
• Raw apple (but not the seeds)
• Raw veggies like carrots
• Steamed veggies like green beans or broccoli
• Any rice, brown, white, or wild

THANKSGIVING FOODS FOR CATS: A REMINDER

Cats are obligate carnivores. This means they thrive on a diet primarily of meat. Meat can safely be shared with your cat on Thanksgiving. Other foods should be given in only very small amounts. Some cats just love sweet potatoes, but it's up to you to restrict their carb intake.

Remember, cats are much smaller than most dogs so your cat really shouldn't get more than a tablespoon of Thanksgiving fixings. An excess of veggies or carbs could give them an upset stomach.

And last but not least don't forget there exercise so they can burn off the excess calories and keep them fit and healthy.

Keep fit post to follow on Thursday.

Have a great Thanksgiving.