Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips in Greenwood, IN
Thanksgiving is all about having a house full of those you love as well as delicious food! While many of us look forward to the holiday, our pets might not be so keen. Most of the foods we eat are no good for our pets, and they can get nervous in a house full of people they’re unfamiliar with. For Thanksgiving pet safety, our animal hospital has come up with some tips for keeping your whole family safe, happy, and healthy.
Keep the Food to Yourself
While some foods at Thanksgiving are safe for pets to eat in small amounts, it’s far better for them to not eat any table scraps at all. It may seem easy to simply not feed your pet table scraps, but pets are resourceful: They’ll snag a piece of meat when you’re not looking; get into the trash while everyone is socializing in another room; and beg from some of your more weak-willed guests! To keep these scenarios from unfolding, there are some tips to follow:
- Put all your dinner scraps and dirty dishes away right after the meal to avoid tempting your pet to snag that turkey bone someone left on their plate.
- Secure your trash can behind a closed door so your pet can’t get to it.
- Inform your guests that they shouldn’t feed your pet any table scraps, no matter how much they beg!
- If the begging gets too intense during dinner time, it may be best to put your pet in their crate or in a separate room until everything is put away.
- Some foods are worse to share with your pet than others. The following contain common toxins that can make your pet dangerously ill, so keep them away at all costs!
- Chocolate
- Garlic
- Grapes/raisins
- Nuts
- Onions
Safety Around Guests
Not all pets are comfortable around guests, and not all guests are comfortable around pets! Ask your guests when you’re planning the dinner how they feel about your cat or dog. If anyone is hesitant, it may be best to keep your pet in a separate room. However, if everyone is okay with your pet being out and about, then it’s time to turn to your pet’s comfort level. Even the friendliest of pets can get a little overwhelmed with all the new people around. Ease your pet into it by introducing them to people one or two at a time. If they seem to enjoy the action and take pleasure from all the attention, then they’re good to go! However, if they seem to be a bit nervous, it may be best to give them some time alone in a separate room.
Decoration Safety
Seasonal decorations create a wonderful ambiance around your home, but some can be a hazard to pets. Keep all open flame candles out of reach of paws, noses, and wagging tails. Also, some plants are poisonous to pets, including mums, peonies, irises, lilies, autumn crocus, and azaleas. Other décor that could be hazardous include fairy lights, potpourri, and pine cones. Make sure your pet has limited access to these, and always supervise them!
Do you have questions about our Thanksgiving pet safety tips? Call us at (317) 851-5000 or ask your veterinarian at your next appointment!
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