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Cruisin' Canines

Thanksgiving Hazards for Dogs

 

You already know that your dog isn’t supposed to eat chocolate, but with Thanksgiving coming up, it’s important to review the various hazards that can present themselves on the big day—and they’re not all just foods. Follow these tips to ensure a happy, healthy holiday for the whole family.

Food and Water

Making sure your pet has enough water on Thanksgiving is key. While you might not be giving any scraps, there might be someone visiting your home that doesn’t know you don’t plan to give table scraps that is sneaking your pet snacks. For this reason, it’s important to leave enough water out so that if your dog does eat an errant salty snack, they’ll be able to mitigate thirst. As for foods they shouldn’t eat, it’s important to be mindful of too many table scraps overall, which can cause a stomachache, as well as foods that can be poisonous, like grapes and raisins, onions and potatoes—just a few things that appear on most menus for Thanksgiving.

Space & Time Alone

If you’re having a lot of people over for the meal, make sure your dog has a quiet place to hang out by him or herself. Being around a lot of people can be overwhelming for dogs, so it’s important that they have access to some time away, whether that’s in the form of their bed, a room that’s off limits to guests, or a gated off section of the hallway. Let them rest a bit throughout the day so that they don’t get over-stimulated and aggressive. Don’t miss walks just because you have company, either—your dog needs exercise, even on holidays. If you think you’ll be too busy during the day, ask one of your guests for help, or even arrange to have a dog walker stop by for a brief visit.

Other Dangers

Other dangers may not immediately occur to you—things like a garbage can unattended or turkey bones on a platter might not seem like they could do any damage, but if your dog is the curious type, these things could cause real problems. Garbage cans can not only include too many food scraps and debris, but other, non-food items like aluminum foil, plastic wrap, etc., that can be harmful to your dog if ingested. As for turkey bones, they are similar to chicken bones in that if your dog eats them, they can cut or get stuck inside your dog, leading to costly surgeries or worse. Don’t let that happen to your pets!

Thanksgiving is a fun time for gathering your loved ones, and that should include your dog. Be mindful of the potential dangers during the day, and keep everyone safe.

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