You probably associate Thanksgiving with friends, family, and feasting. If you have any pets, though, it’s important to remember the holidays pose certain risks for cats, dogs, and other furry friends. In fact, any change to your daily routine can stress out the animals in your home. Fortunately, you can protect their health and continue providing quality pet care regardless of the season by following a few simple tips. 

How to Keep Your Pets Safe Over Thanksgiving

1. Avoid Overdoing It With Table Scraps

Animals have a hard time digesting fatty foods, and it is no secret that all the best Thanksgiving dishes are loaded with fat. There are also a lot of random food items that can make dogs incredibly sick, including onions, avocados, raisins, and garlic. Therefore, it’s best to avoid giving your pets table scraps at all over the holidays. Instead, give them lots of pats and cuddles. 

2. Take Out the Trash Often 

Even well-behaved pets that usually ignore the trash may end up looking for treats in the garbage because the holiday dishes you’re cooking smell so enticing. To prevent pets from getting sick or suffering a life-threatening blockage, take the trash out often. Every time you throw away food scraps, bring the entire bag to the dumpster so there is no risk of your animals falling ill. 

3. Be Wary of Putting Pets in Stressful Scenarios 

If your pets are relatively shy, having everyone over may upset them. This can lead to them doing things they wouldn’t normally do, like chewing decorations, acting aggressive, or even running away. To avoid such issues, why not offer to cook Thanksgiving dinner if someone else will host it? If no one else has enough space to host everyone, the next best option may be to board your animals at a kennel that provides quality pet care. Just make sure to book it early since a lot of families travel to the mainland over Thanksgiving. 

Unfortunately, even if you follow the above tips, accidents can and do happen. If your pets get into trouble this holiday season, turn to Mililani Town Center Pet Clinic. Serving clients throughout Mililani, HI, this veterinary clinic has been providing quality pet care for nearly three decades. Their highly experienced staff is passionate about animals of all kinds, and they will treat your pets like their own. To request a vet appointment today, visit their website or call (808) 625-6744.