Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips
While certainly one of the most fulfilling (and delicious) times of the year, Thanksgiving brings a number of safety hazards into the home. Oaklawn & Cranston Animal Hospitals are happy to share some useful information to keep your pet safe this Thanksgiving.
- Keep people food out of the reach of your pet and ask your guests to do the same.
- Do not offer your pet turkey. If it is raw, or even undercooked, it may contain salmonella.
- Turkey bones should not be given to your pet. They are too fragile and are a choking hazard.
- Make sure your pet doesn’t have access to treats, especially those containing chocolate, xylitol, grapes/raisins, onions, currants or other toxic foods. Ingesting them can result in upset stomachs, heart arrhythmia, kidney failure and seizures.
- Don’t leave your pet alone in the room with lit candles, creating a fire hazard.
- If your pet is excitable or scared when you have company, consider putting your pet in another room with toys, a comfortable bed, etc., or providing a safe place for your pet to escape the excitement, such as a kennel, crate, perching place, scratching post shelf or hiding place.
- Watch the alcoholic drinks. Unattended drinks may result in a dangerously drunk pet! It doesn’t take much for small animals to get alcohol poisoning.
