Keep Pets Safe This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a special holiday that brings together family and friends, but it also can carry some hazards for pets. Holiday food needs to be kept away from pets, and pet owners who travel need to either transport their pets safely or find safe accommodations for them at home. Follow these tips to keep your pets healthy and safe during the holiday.
Poison Risks
Overindulging in the family feast can be unhealthy for humans, but even worse for pets: Fatty foods are hard for animals to digest. Poultry bones can damage your pet’s digestive tract. And holiday sweets can contain ingredients that are poisonous to pets.
- Keep the feast on the table - not under it. Eating turkey or turkey skin – sometimes even a small amount - can cause a life-threatening condition in pets known as pancreatitis. Fatty foods are hard for animals to digest, and many foods that are healthy for people are poisonous to pets - including onions, raisins and grapes. If you want to share a Thanksgiving treat with your pet, make or buy a treat that is made just for them.
- No pie or other desserts for your pooch. Chocolate can be harmful for pets, even though many dogs find it tempting and will sniff it out and eat it. The artificial sweetener called xylitol - commonly used in gum and sugar-free baked goods - also can be deadly if consumed by dogs or cats.
- Yeast dough can cause problems for pets, including painful gas and potentially dangerous bloating. (FYI - it is not good for human digestive tracks for the same reasons).
- Put the trash away where your pets can’t find it. A turkey carcass sitting out on the carving table, or left in a trash container that is open or easily opened, could be deadly to your family pet. Dispose of turkey carcasses and bones - and anything used to wrap or tie the meat, such as strings, bags and packaging - in a covered, tightly secured trash bag placed in a closed trash container outdoors (or behind a closed, locked door).
- Be careful with decorative plants. Don’t forget that some flowers and festive plants can be toxic to pets. These include amaryllis, Baby’s Breath, Sweet William, some ferns, hydrangeas and more.
- Quick action can save lives. If you believe your pet has been poisoned or eaten something it shouldn’t have, call your veterinarian or local veterinary emergency clinic immediately. You may also want to call the:
ASPCA Poison Control Hotline:
888-426-4435
Pet Poison Hotline:
855-764-7661.
Signs of pet distress include: sudden changes in behavior, depression, pain, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Contact us during hospital hours at:
973-728-2233
or when we are closed call Oradell Animal Hospital at:
201-262-0010
or AERA at:
973-226-3282
Precautions for Parties
If you’re hosting a party or overnight visitors, plan ahead to keep your pets safe and make the experience less stressful for everyone.
- Visitors can upset your pets. Some pets are shy or excitable around new people or in crowds, and Thanksgiving often means many visitors at once and higher-than-usual noise and activity levels. If you know your dog or cat is nervous when people visit your home, put him/her in another room or a crate with a favorite toy. This will reduce the emotional stress on your pet and protect your guests from possible injury. If your pet is particularly upset by houseguests, call us about possible solutions to this common problem.
- Watch the exits. Even if your pets are comfortable around guests, make sure you watch them closely, especially when people are entering or leaving your home. While you’re welcoming hungry guests and collecting coats, a four-legged family member may make a break for it out the door and become lost.
- Identification tags and microchips reunite families. Make sure your pet has proper identification with your current contact information – particularly a microchip with up-to-date, registered information. That way, if they do sneak out, they’re more likely to be returned to you. If your pets are not already microchipped, talk to us about the benefits of this simple procedure.
- Watch your pets around festive decorations. Special holiday displays or candles are attractive to pets as well as people. Never leave a pet alone in an area with a lit candle; it could result in a fire. Consider using battery operated candles that are safe for pets. And pine cones, needles and other decorations can cause intestinal blockages or even perforate an animal’s intestine if eaten.
Travel Concerns
Whether you take your pets with you or leave them behind, take these precautions to safeguard them when traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday or at any other time of the year.
- Your pet needs a health certificate from your veterinarian if you’re traveling across state lines or international borders, whether by air or car. Your pet may need additional vaccines for protection against diseases not local to our area.
- Never leave pets alone in vehicles, even for a short time, regardless of the weather.
- Pets should always be safely restrained in vehicles. This means using a secure harness or a carrier, placed in a location clear of airbags. This helps protect your pets if you brake or swerve suddenly, or get in an accident; keeps them away from potentially poisonous food or other items you are transporting; prevents them from causing dangerous distractions for the driver; and can prevent small animals from getting trapped in small spaces. Never transport your pet in the bed of a truck.
- Talk with your veterinarian if you’re traveling by air and considering bringing your pet with you. Air travel can put pets at risk, especially short-nosed dogs. Your veterinarian is the best person to advise you regarding your own pet’s ability to travel.
- Pack for your pet as well as yourself if you’re going to travel together. In addition to your pet’s food and medications, this includes bringing medical records, information to help identify your pet if it becomes lost, first aid supplies, and other items.
- Are you considering boarding your dog while you travel? Talk with your veterinarian to find out how best to protect your pet from canine flu, “kennel cough” and other contagious diseases, and to make sure your pet is up-to-date on vaccines.
