thanksgiving

With November upon us, Thanksgiving is just around the corner. ‘Tis the season to express gratitude to our loved ones, including our pets! Show them a wonderful holiday this Turkey Day.

Be Careful About Food Scraps

Thanksgiving dinner is well worth the year’s wait. Unfortunately, most of the traditional Thanksgiving dishes contain ingredients that can be dangerous for your pet. It is well-known that pets are not meant to consume common toxins like chocolate and xylitol sweetener, but there are many other foods that can make your dog or cat very ill. Anything cooked with onions, scallions, or garlic is toxic to dogs and cats. This likely includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and more. Furthermore, dairy products can cause serious stomach upset; lactose intolerance is common in dogs and cats and is not detected until after a problem has occurred. Salads made with grapes or raisins can cause kidney damage to dogs. Even meats like unseasoned turkey and ham can create digestive problems, particularly if they contain bones. As a result, it is best to avoid giving anything from the Thanksgiving table to your pet.

Some pets are curious and will attempt to sneak food. You can take it as a compliment to your cooking, but do not let them consume it. Due to the severity of these ingredients, we recommend keeping your pet out of the room during prep, feasting, and clean-up. Remember to take out the trash before letting them back into the room.

Traveling

If you are traveling for Thanksgiving, make sure you have made accommodations for your pet. If they will be flying with you, make sure to read up on airline rules and safety. Update any tags or microchips to ensure that all information is up to date.

If your pet is staying home, they will still need accommodations. Arrange for someone to watch them, or find a boarding facility. Those located near Orange County, California can find professional cats-only boarding at Claws N Paws. Contact us at 714-962-1005 for more information.

Hosting Guests

You may have taken on the brave task of hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your home. Your pet might love the extra attention, but make sure the environment is safe and comfortable. Monitor the door (and alert your guests of any pets in the home) to make sure there are no runaways. Supervise any children, particularly those who have not been exposed to many animals. Keep in mind that it may be ultimately safer to keep your pet in a separate room from guests.

Claws N Paws Day Spa owns and operates a full-service professional grooming salon in Fountain Valley, California. Right next door is our cats-only boarding facility, perfect for the holidays. Stop by today for more information!

Thanksgiving Safety for Dogs

Typically, dogs enjoy Thanksgiving as much as humans do. After all, there are many delectable smells drifting around the house, bits of food dropping on the floor and lots of new people to love and pet them. However, Thanksgiving shouldn’t be a free for all when it comes to our dogs. There are several items that are simply not safe for dogs to consume.

During the holiday season, veterinarians experience a high number of calls regarding digestive issues. While it’s tempting to offer our dogs a big bowl full of turkey and mashed potatoes with gravy, these foods can cause upset stomach, diarrhea or a life threatening condition known as pancreatitis. A few strips of turkey on your dog’s normal food is fine, but too much can cause serious issues. Additionally, turkey skin is extremely tough on a dog’s digestive system.

A great way to keep your dog happy during your Thanksgiving feast is by putting a bit of their regular food and a very small amount of boneless, skinless turkey inside a Kong toy. This will keep them occupied for quite a while. It’s also a good idea to walk your pet before the festivities begin.

Cooked turkey bones are dangerous for your pet. You might not find out for several days if your dog has a turkey bone lodged in their digestive system. Always keep plates, bones and leftover turkey far away from your dog. In addition to bones, anything that contains onions or herbs should be kept away from pets. Eating onions can lead to a dangerous form of anemia and sage and other herbs can cause upset tummy and central nervous system depression if eaten in large quantities.

Occasionally, dogs are attracted to alcoholic beverages. If consumed, the dog can become disoriented and ill. Too much alcohol can lead to coma or death. Make sure that you keep a close eye on alcoholic beverages that might be left within your dog’s reach.

We hope that this information has been helpful as we strive to provide education on all aspects of pet care.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

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