Here are some tips that will help you and your dog get
through Thanksgiving safely and with a smile on her snout.
Stuff Your Turkey, Not Your Dog
It’s easy to want to give your dog a big fat bowl of
turkey, mashed potatoes, and whatever else you think she might enjoy on
Thanksgiving, but that’s a bad idea. Overindulging in fatty foods will
definitely lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea, or a life-threatening condition
called pancreatitis. A few strips of turkey on a dog’s normal food is fine, but
don’t overdo it, no matter how she may plead with her little “PLEASE FEED
ME!” eyes. Keep in mind that turkey skin can wreak terrible havoc with a
dog’s digestive system, so make sure she gets skinless, boneless turkey.
Stuff Your Dog’s Kong, Not Your Dog
Here’s a great way to keep your dog busy and happy during
your Thanksgiving meal. Put a bit of your dog’s regular food in a Kong, and
then stuff a little boneless turkey, sweet potatoes, gravy – just a tad, mind
you – into the Kong. Even though it’s not much food, it will keep him occupied
for a long time.
Get Her Pooped
A dog that has been on a big walk or has fetched the ball
a zillion times will be much more likely to run out of energy during the feast
than a dog who’s been inside all day. A tired dog is a good dog on
Thanksgiving, so make sure your pup gets plenty of exercise before the
festivities begin.
Make No Bones About It
Cooked turkey bones are an absolute danger to your dog.
They’re sharp, and they are potentially very dangerous. To make matters worse,
you may not know that your dog has a turkey bone lodged in his digestive system
for days. Be sure not to leave any plates with bones lying around. The same for
the turkey carcass, because hungry dogs have been known to run off with the
remains of a carved turkey. It can all happen in the blink of an eye. One
minute it’s there and then you notice the turkey is gone and so is your dog.
With luck, you will find their hiding place before anything happens. Put all
plates with food still on them in an unreachable area if you can’t dispose of
everything properly right away.
Know This Sage Wisdom
Sage and some other herbs have essential oils are also
items that can cause tummy upset and central nervous system depression if a dog
eats them in large quantities. Most dogs aren’t going to nosh on a fistful of
sage, but be sure to keep herbs out of reach just in case.
Don’t Cry Over Onions
A lot of people don’t know this, but onions are toxic to
dogs. They can lead to a dangerous form of anemia that may not be able to be
detected for days. Make sure your dog stays away from the pearly whites, and
yellows, and reds.
Don’t Give Her the Raw Deal
Unless your dog is already on a raw diet, don’t plop a
piece of raw turkey in her bowl, because the change from her regular food might
cause an upset stomach. But more importantly, keep your pup away from any
uncooked dough for bread or rolls. What helps make dough rise? Heat. If a dog
eats raw dough, then what’s it like for the dough in the dog’s stomach? Warm.
The dough rises in the dog’s stomach, and if the dog has eaten enough, the
swollen dough can cause pain, vomiting, and bloating — conditions that will
send you to the doggy ER on Thanksgiving.
Avoid Yappy Hour
Although some dogs seem to enjoy alcoholic drinks, it is
not a good idea for them to have them. If you walk away from your drink that’s
set on the coffee table, Sparky may get lit. This might sounds funny, but it is
really not. Dogs and booze are definitely a bad mix. Your dog may not do
anything embarrassing she’ll regret in the morning, but she could easily become
disoriented and even quite ill. Too much alcohol can even lead to a coma, and
possibly death. Watch where you and others put their drinks on Thanksgiving,
especially if you have a curious pup.
Have a safe and Yappy Thanksgiving!
Jeff Schmidt
Dog-gone Sauce Company