How to Keep Your Dog Safe this Thanksgiving!
If you’re a dog lover, sharing the holidays with your four-legged best friend makes them even more special! But first, learn how to keep your dog safe this Thanksgiving with the tips below!
Keep Your Dog Safe Around Holiday Decorations
When it comes to the holidays, most dog parents are concerned about which holiday foods their dog can safely eat. But even before the Thanksgiving Day meal, holiday decorations in your home can also pose some real threats to your family dog.
Candles & Potpourri
Exposed electrical wires and batteries
Indian Corn
Candy/food wrappers/packaging/foil
Seasonal plants including:
Autumn Crocus
Gardenia
Chrysanthemums
Hydrangeas
Baby’s Breath
Amaryllis
Lilies
Some ferns
Sweet William
Thanksgiving Cactus
Keep Your Dog Safe Around Holiday Foods
Thanksgiving includes so many delicious foods and smells! Your dog feels the same way so be prepared for lots of sad and begging puppy eyes!
Keep in mind that many of the holiday “trimmings” are too rich and potentially toxic for your dog. Added butter, spices, sugar, onions, garlic, leeks, chives, gravy, raisins and grapes can cause pancreatitis or other digestive ailments and should never be fed to your dog.
Consider putting them in another room to keep them from ingesting unsafe holiday foods or ingredients.
If your dog (or any other pet) is going to be around during the Thanksgiving Day meal, plan – and set aside - safe treats for your dog you and others can feed to your dog guilt-free.
Make sure all guests understand to not feed your dog – no matter how much they beg – table scraps!
Healthy and safe holiday foods to share with your dog in moderation:
Plain, white turkey meat with the skin removed.
Plain cooked sweet potatoes with skin removed.
Plain green beans, carrots and celery.
Plain cooked or canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)
Keep these holiday foods and treats away from your dog (and any other pets).
Alcohol, beer, wine and eggnog.
Cooked or raw bones including turkey, chicken or ham. These bones are very brittle and can break into small, sharp pieces posing choking or intestinal blockages or tears.
Any fat or skin.
Stuffing and gravy.
Store-bought desserts and sweets that may contain the toxic artificial sweetener, xylitol (learn more about xylitol on our blog).
Mushrooms.
Dressings.
Mashed potatoes and creamed peas.
Walnuts, pistachios and macadamia nuts.
Raw dough (can cause gas, bloating and alcohol/ethanol poisoning in dogs when ingested).
Blue cheese (and dressing).
Coffee and tea.
Chocolate and cocoa.
Keep Your Dog Safe from the Trash
Keep all dirty dishes, pots, pans and trash away from your curious (and always hungry) canine! Remove all dishes and leftovers from the table after eating and place all trash in a secured container in the garage or behind a closed door.
From our family to yours, we wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving Holiday!
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