Keep in mind these Thanksgiving safety tips for pets during the holidays. Let’s make sure it’s not a dangerous time for your furry friend! Enjoy time with your family and avoid a visit to your veterinarian by following this guide:
Cut the fat:
Fatty or rich foods like beef fat, poultry skin, and gravy can cause severe gastrointestinal issues in pets, including:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Excessive gas
- Serious diseases like pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a severe inflammation of the pancreas, an organ that produces digestive enzymes. On the mild side, pancreatitis can cause vomiting and a decrease in appetite, but can potentially be fatal.
If you want to treat your pet, it’s best to stick to a pet treat or a couple of small bites of lean poultry or unsalted/unbuttered vegetables.
Bones are bad:
Although bones from our holiday birds look good to pets, they are dangerous and can cause intestinal upset and may even splinter once digested.
Watch the packaging:
Make sure you 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 a pet. Once ingested, these items can cause damage or blockage of the intestines.
Chocolate is particularly toxic:
Consider all the cookie and desserts offered during the holidays, many of which contain chocolate.
Chocolate is dangerous for dogs in particular because it contains theobromine, a caffeine-like ingredient that can be toxic to your pet. Dogs are not able to metabolize theobromine as quickly as humans. Complications include:
- Digestive issues
- Dehydration
- Excitability
- Slow heart rate
Later stages of theobromine poisoning include epileptic-like seizures and death. Keep your pet away from dark, semi-sweet and baker’s chocolate because they contain higher levels of theobromine.
We hope these Thanksgiving safety tips for pets were helpful!
Source: Banfield
You are invited to our 2nd Annual Pet Swap at Kissimmee Valley Feed Store #2, located at 215 13th Street on October 19th from 10AM-1PM. This is an indoor event and completely free to attend. You may buy, sell, or trade animals. We are excited to host this event and see new relationships form! We are providing tables for your convenience.
Who needs tips on prepping your hunting dog? We’ve gotten through these long, hot summer months in anticipation for the fall. With hunting season right around the corner now is the time to begin rigorous training. Get your retrievers ready for waterfowl action the right way! Whether you’re a first time owner or seasoned hunter, it’s always a good idea to refresh those skills. Here’s a brief look into the most important tips brought to you by Duck Unlimited below.
UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who attended! Here is a link to access the photos from the event. https://photocoephotography.shootproof.com/gallery/10681169/