Dog Safety Tips for Thanksgiving
Dog and Puppy Training
Dog Safety Tips for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is almost here! Even in South Florida (Margate) the weather is cooling off and we are all looking forward to the Holidays! This time of year snacks and food is readily available to people and pets alike. We will soon be consuming (all day and night) yummy, home baked and store bought goodness! It is a time to be thankful to God for all we have, including our dogs. By following these simple Thanksgiving dog safety tips we can show our gratitude to our pets.
Food, food and more food! (Gotta love it) This time of year with all the food to be found we need to ensure it does not make it into our dogs mouth. Many dogs have highly sensitive digestive systems and the high fat found in most of our holiday human goodies can cause damage. Pancreatitis is one of the most common illnesses your dog will experience if they are fed table food. Their little pancreas will become inflamed causing all sorts of discomfort. High fat foods kick the pancreas into overdrive, releasing enzyme overload. Signs and symptoms range from loss of appetite, diarrhea and even depression.
No table scrap is worth jeopardizing your dog’s safety.
Bones really are no good in most cases for your pet especially turkey bones! They can splinter and break, getting lodged into your pet’s throat and tummy. Additionally salmonella can often be found in the center of the bone if not along it. After you cook your turkey, the internal temperature may not have reached the degrees needed to kill this harmful bacterium. By feeding the bones to your dog it only increases the chances of passing it along to them.
Start training now by allowing your dog to spend time in their safety zone.
This time of year your home will be filled with family and visitors. Some will be loud rambunctious fast moving children, others will be large slow moving loud humans who’s breath smells funny. Your pet may not appreciate the noise and chaos as much as you. Create a calm quiet zone for all of your pets. Let them get adjusted to it before guests arrive. Start training now by allowing your pets to spend time in their safety zone. Your dog will be confused if you wait until the day of the festivities to confine him to the safety zone and that confusion may result in your dog acting out and causing more of a problem. When the noise starts up your best buddy will have a safe place to head off to. By providing your dog with a safety zone, you are also decreasing the chances that a well meaning guest will pass along table scraps to your pet.
So as you plan your Thanksgiving Day guest list, menu, and seat arrangements – don’t forget to put in a place a few thanksgiving dog safety tips to keep your beloved pet safe. You don’t want this holiday to be remembered by a trip to the emergency vet, or worse.