As you indulge in Thanksgiving festivities with your family and friends around the dinner table, your pet is undoubtedly lingering around to catch food that falls on the floor. While you may not intentionally feed a Thanksgiving meal to your furry friend, they may ingest food that compromises their health. The following pet wellness tips will keep everyone at their best this holiday season. 

How to Keep Your Pet Healthy On Thanksgiving

1. Keep Turkey Bones Away

The fine, sharp bones found in turkey can perforate stomach or intestinal linings, leading to pain and infection. They can also damage the mouth and gums. While it’s safe to offer a small bite of turkey, keep larger chunks that may contain bones away from curious and hungry pets.

2. Avoid Bread & Sweets

Yeast and sugar can cause abdominal pain, accompanied by diarrhea, gas, and vomiting. In extreme cases, your pet may develop dangerous bloating. Artificial sweeteners can cause insulin release and liver failure in your cat or dog. To prevent pets from over-indulging in sweet foods, keep them away from bowls of candy, pumpkin pie, chocolate, and yeast dough. 

3. Nix the Nuts

Nuts are too fatty to be absorbed by dogs. Excessive consumption can cause stomach and bowel problems. Macadamia nuts, in particular, are toxic for dogs, as they cause weakness, depression, and vomiting. While nuts aren’t as dangerous to cats as they are to dogs, you should still keep nuts at bay as they may cause discomfort in your feline. 

4. Avoid All Types of Onions

Onions, leeks, garlic, and shallots are all common in Thanksgiving foods, they’re highly toxic for your dog or cat, as they can cause anemia—when red cells burst and clear faster from their system as usual. If your pet accidentally consumes onion or garlic, visit your veterinarian immediately as it can lead to serious health issues.

5. Avoid Grapes, Raisins, & Citrus

Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in animals. The citric acid found in lemons, limes, and grapefruits can cause stomach aches. Make sure you keep the meringue pie away from your pets on Thanksgiving. 

6. Keep Garbage Secure

While garbage is attractive to your furry friend, consumption can be a pet wellness hazard. Keep garbage securely sealed in bags and containers that your pet can’t open to ensure they don’t ingest sweets or the turkey carcass. Be mindful of wildlife as well—make sure garbage cans are secure from raccoons, possums, and squirrels, who also can be harmed by Thanksgiving leftovers.

Experienced veterinarians at Avon Animal Hospital, in Livingston County, NY, offer emergency and preventive care for your pet. They also offer surgery, dental care, and overall pet wellness checks for dogs, cats, and pocket pets. Serving the community since the early 1900s, the clinic is committed to providing compassionate service to the pets in their care. Call (585) 226-6144 to make an appointment or visit their website to see a list of their services.