Pets around the country will soon be salivating as they take in the delicious turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie aromas. Thanksgiving is full of tasty temptations for people and pets, but overindulging has different consequences. While you may end up with pants that feel too tight, your pet could end up at the emergency veterinary clinic. And, table scraps aren’t the only potential Thanksgiving pet hazard. Ensure your pet stays safe this Thanksgiving with tips from our team at Commonwealth Animal Care.
Before Thanksgiving—make plans for your pet
No matter your Thanksgiving plans, keep your pet’s comfort and safety in mind. If you will be traveling, decide whether your pet will accompany you or stay with a sitter or at a boarding facility. If you will be boarding your pet, remember that spots fill up quickly around the holidays, so make your pet’s reservation early, and schedule an appointment with our team to ensure your pet is current on their vaccinations, which boarding facilities require.
If you are hosting Thanksgiving, consider your pet’s personality, and the effect of the large gathering and change in their routine. Some pets thrive in social settings and some prefer a quiet place away from the crowd, but all pets should have access to a room where they can retreat if they feel overwhelmed. Set them up with a cozy bed, food and water bowls, and engaging toys, and turn on calm music or the television for background noise. Planning for your pet can eliminate their stress and help keep them safe and comfortable on Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving morning—prepare your pet for the day ahead
The preparations leading up to your Thanksgiving feast can be stressful for you—especially if you are the one in charge of cooking that feast. Your pet can pick up on your anxiety , so do yourself and your pet a favor on Thanksgiving morning and practice some self-care for stress relief. Take a long walk, and enjoy some quality time with your pet before the madness ensues. When you are ready to begin cooking, set up your pet with their favorite toy or a Kong filled with peanut butter, and block their access to the kitchen. “Too many cooks in the kitchen” refers to pets, too, and cooking is much easier—and less stressful—without a curious pet weaving in and out of your legs, hoping that something delicious will drop their way. Your pet will also be safer out of the kitchen, as many of the ingredients in popular Thanksgiving dishes can be toxic for pets. Before your guests arrive, discuss the safety rules for your pet with your family, and designate one person to be in charge of watching your pet during the festivities. Setting clear expectations and enlisting the whole family’s help ensures your pet will remain safe.
During your Thanksgiving celebration—prioritize pet safety
Hosting Thanksgiving takes energy and focus. While your attention is on your guests, cooking, and serving, your pet can easily get into trouble, so be aware of these common Thanksgiving pet hazards:
- Open doors —While you greet and bid farewell to friends and family, your pet has numerous opportunities to slip through the door. Whether they bolt because of fear, or simply to explore, countless pets go missing each year during the holiday hustle and bustle. Your designated pet-watcher should prevent door-dashing by keeping your pet securely leashed when the door is open, or blocking their front door access with a pet gate.
- Table scraps — Ensure your pet stays out of the dining room during dinner, and ask guests to refrain from sharing table scraps. Thanksgiving foods dangerous for your pet include:
- Turkey
- Onion, garlic, and chives
- Alcohol
- Raisins
- Xylitol (i.e., a sugar substitute)
- Choking hazards — Some pets will try to eat anything that fits in their mouth, which can become a choking hazard or an intestinal blockage that may require surgical removal. Commonly ingested items include:
- Raw or cooked bones
- Corn on the cob
- Miniature pumpkins and gourds
- Food wrappers
After your Thanksgiving celebration—let your pet decompress
Rather than jumping into clean-up mode after saying “Goodbye” to your Thanksgiving guests, take some time to decompress with your pet. The dishes will wait, and after a long day of socializing, you both deserve some rest. Put on your sweats, turn on a good movie, cuddle with your pet, and congratulate yourself on another successful, pet-safe Thanksgiving.
If you have additional questions, need to update your pet’s vaccinations, or have your pet microchipped before the holiday, contact our team at Commonwealth Animal Care. Have a happy, safe, and pet-safe Thanksgiving.
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