‘Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts – but can also be stressful for our animal companions.
Every year, veterinary clinics flood with emergencies because of a lack of understanding and lack of safety preparations for pets.
Take the edge off with pet exercise.
Bump up the activity level and give your pet a work out before the visitors arrive. This will get rid of excessive energy and help your pet to be better behaved when company arrives.
Provide a private refuge for pets. Most of our houses are filled with running children, the happy chatter of relatives and a football game in the background. Though cheerful for people, pets can get overwhelmed from these events and may become snappy or upset. Give them their own safe haven away from people and remember to feed them out of reach of children and strangers.
Before you sit down to feast reduce temptation–from both guests and pets.
Feed your pets before guests arrive to reduce the temptation for begging and stealing.
Put out approved dog or cat treats where you entertain for those visitors who can’t resist feeding your four legged family members.
Let visitors know that feeding table scraps to your dog or cat can cause him or her unwanted abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea. Fatty foods fed to pets can contribute to pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. Symptoms of pancreatitis vary but can include vomiting, abdominal pain, blood tinged diarrhea, fever, weakness and trembling. Panting or a hunched-up abdomen indicates that the dog is in pain. Be aware that acute pancreatitis is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention from a veterinarian.
Some of the hazards to pets on Thanksgiving include
Ø Rich, fatty foods (turkey skins, gravy, etc,) can lead to digestive upset.
Ø Onions in holiday stuffing can lead to canine anemia if consumed by your dog.
Ø The toxins from grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in pets.
Ø Ingesting chocolate (contains theobromine) can also cause seizures and possibly be lethal to your pet.
Ø Sage advice - Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.
Ø Bones can splinter and cause tears or obstruction in a pet’s digestive tract. A pet with a turkey bone lodged in his or her digestive system may not show any symptoms for a day or two. Some symptoms include a loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea or lethargy. Sometimes the bone will pass while other times it may need to be surgically removed.
Ø Don’t forget that caffeine and alcohol are also toxic for pets.
Avoid trashy behavior - Once the table is cleared, make sure garbage cans are secured to keep critters out so they are unable to chew on leftovers, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, etc.
You never know when you will encounter a disaster during holiday festivities so keep our number (972-496-4126) handy along with the local emergency pet hospital.
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