Thanksgiving holiday can bring together family and friends, but it’s important to remember it can be hazardous for pets. Holidays call for pet owners to take extra precaution to make sure their furry babies are safe. Those who travel need to either transport their pets safely or find safe accommodations for them at home, and party preparations should be made to ensure a great environment for everyone! Check out these simple tips to keep your pets (or patients) healthy, happy, and safe this Thanksgiving!
1: Make sure everyone knows which foods are “off the table” this season:
Food is one of the largest holiday threats for your patients and pets, especially ones like Thanksgiving that involve lots of it! Well, we’d like to say it’s only Thanksgiving… but seems like all holidays are there to help us pack on the pounds with delicious foods (thank goodness for spin classes…).
So how can you as veterinarians create awareness for clients and protect your patients / pets? Why not have a little hand out for your clients this season, to display it for guests to see at their holiday party. Since it’s not only important for them to be aware, but their family and friends who may not know which foods can be toxic for them! So, here’s a list of toxic foods – Oh! and of course here is a nice free easy print out from us to you 🙂
Toxic Foods:
- Raw Meats
- Cooked Bones (they can splinter)
- Oils / Butter
- Chocolate
- Nutmeg
- Nuts (Walnuts, Macadamia)
- Dough
- Onions
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Mushrooms
- Sage
- Nutmeg
2: Guard the Trash!!
Making sure the animals don’t have access to the trash can be so very important in making sure they don’t ingest anything bad for them. It could be a very bad situation for the animal and yourself – especially if the animal is larger and has easier access, or if the trash feast goes unnoticed. There are many ways to make your trash pet-proof, but one of the easiest ones is to purchase a “locking” trash can! These are actually great for keeping trash smells at bay as well.
3: Give ’em their own feast!
What better way to take their minds off the bird, than make them there own Thanksgiving feast?! Also, providing them with something to relax with in the other room to get away from all the activity and ease their mind can be a good idea. Maybe a favorite bone, or cat-nip for the kittys! Check out this cute little blog and learn how to make a “Paw-fect” feast for your puppy patients or pets!
4: Give them a getaway!
Giving animals the chance to isolate themselves when the stress of a house full of people is getting to them, is a great idea. Set aside a room for them to hide away in when they want to! You can fill it with their favorite toys, treats, and a comfy place for them to lounge around without being bothered!
5: Check their I.D.’s!
Part of animal safety is making sure if your pet/patient pulled an escape routine, that they can be easily identified and returned to you or your clients! Check ID’s to make sure everything is up to date and secured properly to collars. Especially around holiday seasons when there is more traffic than usual coming in and out of your home!
