Thanksgiving Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe

Thanksgiving is just around the corner which means the folks at VSES are getting prepared to be here if you need us. Below are some pet safety tips so that you and your furry companion can avoid visiting us and instead stay home with the rest of your family on the holiday.

Turkey NO NO’s: Everybody has that relative who likes to ‘help’ prepare the meal--by telling you exactly what you are doing wrong. We too have some advice on how to prepare the turkey but it has nothing to do with how you stuff the bird. Do not feed your pet raw or under cooked turkey-it could contain harmful bacteria called salmonella.  Do not let your pet near the turkey carcass. Bones of any size could cause severe digestive tract issues if consumed by your pet.

Keep These Items Out of Reach: If your four legged friend is like any other, they are very VERY curious. To ensure their safety make sure alcohol, raw yeast dough and cake batter is not left unattended. The ingestion of any of these items can lead to a life threatening emergency requiring hospitalization.

Party Etiquette: Thanksgiving is a time for friends and family to get together and enjoy one another’s company. However, your animal companion may not share the same sediment. If you find Uncle Ben’s laugh to be roaring and terrifying, chances are so does your dog. Some animals find large groups or strangers in their house quite distressing.  If they are nervous or have a tendency to bite it is best to separate them from the Thanksgiving festivities.

 If you (or your sister’s kid) decide to feed your four legged friend a sample of your Thanksgiving feast a few small pieces of turkey, a bit of grandma’s mashed potatoes or even a lick of Aunt Susan’s pumpkin pie should not cause a problem. However, be sure not to allow your pets to overindulge, as their stomachs are more sensitive than ours. Too much of Thanksgiving’s bounty could give them some serious GI issues like vomiting, diarrhea or the worst of all- pancreatitis. To be safe, we recommend you keep your pet on their regular diet.

We understand accidents happen and we will be here if you need us. If you have a concern or think you may need to bring your furry companion in do not hesitate to call us or come in. 

Happy Thanksgiving!