Thanksgiving Safety for Pets
It’s easy to admit: we’re all wildly thankful for the pets in our lives and will do just about anything to give them the happy, healthy lives they deserve. Yet, that means sometimes keeping them from enjoying all of the same things we enjoy during the holiday season. Food is of course the highlight of Thanksgiving and many of the foods (even some that are healthy for us) are dangerous for our pets. Decorations and festive plants can also cause trouble as some are poisonous for our pets to eat. Yet there’s plenty of easy precautions you can take to make your pet’s Thanksgiving a safe one!
The Good News: What Your Pet Can Eat
We figure it’s best to start with the good news! Your pet can actually enjoy quite a few Thanksgiving foods safely—all in moderation of course.
Here’s what your pet can enjoy:
- Turkey – but make sure it is boneless and well-cooked
- Sweet potatoes – without too much butter and sugar
- Plain pumpkin
- Green beans
- Cranberry – without too much sugar
- Carrots
- Apples
The Bad News: What Your Pet Can’t Eat
Unfortunately, there are probably more table scraps your pet definitely should not eat, compared to what they can eat.
Here’s a list what your pet cannot eat from your Thanksgiving dinner:
- Fatty foods including bacon, gravies, butter, and fatty meat scraps
- Bones, corn cobs, and other discarded food items which can cause intestinal obstructions or injury
- Baked goods, particularly those that are artificially sweetened and could contain xylitol, a danger toxin
- Onions and garlic which may be healthy and tasty to us, but are toxic to pets
- Raisins, grapes, and currants which can cause renal failure, even with small ingestion
- Nuts, especially macadamia nuts which can cause serious reactions
- Chocolate, which many of us know is a dangerous toxin
Unless you’re completely sure the food your sharing is non-toxic, don’t share!
Decorations and Plants
Many of our festive decorations and plants are also very toxic and dangerous to curious pets. Lilies, baby’s breath, some ferns, hydrangeas, and many more, are toxic to pets when eaten. Additionally, candles should be kept well out of reach of wagging tails and nosy noses!
What to Do if Your Pet Eats Something Toxic
It’s impossible to know everything that is toxic to your pet, but if you suspect that they may have ingested a dangerous toxin, call us right away, or better yet, bring them in. Yet we hope it doesn’t come to that! Enjoy a happy and healthy Thanksgiving with your pet!