Thanksgiving is a great time for family and friends to get together and (over)indulge in delicious foods, then relax by the football game. Our smart little dogs and cats know just how to tilt their heads and bat their eyes to be rewarded with leftovers and snacks from the table. Usually, our pets’ day-to-day diets are very bland and repetitive-and for good reason. Dogs and cats have gastrointestinal tracts that are not made to handle the excess fat in our meats and gravies, spices in our casseroles, and sugar in our desserts; and an overindulgence in these table scraps often leads to very sick pets. Pancreatitis can occur, which is a very painful condition that causes severe inflammation in the pancreas, vomiting, and diarrhea, and can result in hospitalization. So, as much as Fido begs for that turkey leg doused in gravy, try to resist handing it over; instead, opt for more bland options-boiled potatoes, rice, and lean cuts of meat.
Leave the garlic for the vampires
Table scraps aren’t the only worry for our pets either-garlic and onion can be very toxic to Fluffy and Fido. Garlic and onions are members of the allium group, and when consumed in large quantities, can cause lysis of red blood cells in dogs and cats. This leads to severe, sometimes life-threatening, anemia. Also, chocolate abounds in our desserts and is also highly toxic to our animals, which means no chocolate soufflé for Snowflake.
No bones about it
After dinner you may be tempted to hand over that wishbone to Bella, but bones are never a good idea to give your dogs or cats-they can get stuck in the esophagus or gastrointestinal tract, causing choking or blockage that might require surgery. No one wants to spend their holiday weekend at the veterinarian’s with a sick pet, so stick to treats that are bland or specifically made for pets.
Help your doggy deal
As we all know, holidays come with noisy nephews and nieces, intruding in-laws, and sometimes Aunt Bea’s 22-year-old Chihuahua who dislikes everyone except Aunt Bea. If your pet is not accustomed to the additional noise and hubbub, this can cause a lot of extra stress and anxiety. Fluffy and Fido may feel better in a separate room, safe from the scary noises and new smells that come with the holidays. If you feel your pet needs something extra to make it through the holidays (don’t we all?), we can provide anti-anxiety medications or make some recommendations to help everyone have a more peaceful season.
We’ll be right here
Last but not least, it’s a good idea to keep your veterinarian’s and/or emergency clinic’s numbers handy in case your holidays don’t go as planned. Keep in mind that Reber Ranch is open on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after Thanksgiving in case you should (although we hope you don’t) need us to care for your sick pets!
