HAPPY THANKSGIVING - Safety Tips For Your Pet!

We all know what tomorrow is: TURKEY DAY!! Although this is a great time for families to be close to each other and enjoying delicious food, there are some dangers to your pets you need to be aware of. My post today is going to be about protecting your pet and what you need to watch for to keep them safe and healthy!

THANKSGIVING DINNER:

Without a doubt, this is probably the best time of the day! We all get so full and then it is nap time! Although the temptation may be hard to resist, you should not feed your pets any table scraps. A diet that is too high in fat will cause your pets to be obese which could leadto heart disease, joint problems, as well as many others. If you absolutely have to feed her something, only choose a small morsel of food and only do it one time. She should also be made to do a trick before given the reward - this will avoid spoiling her.

Another thing to watch out for is giving your dog a turkey bone to chew on. This may seem like a great idea, but trust me….you don’t want the bone to become lodged in her stomach! The bone could tear or block her intestines resulting in severe complications. If you have any doubt, just ask your veterinarian - they will be able to recommend which foods (if any) you should be feeding your pet.

COMPANY:

Chances are if you aren’t going to a family member’s house, you will be having them over to yours at one point or another tomorrow. What do you do with your pets during this time?

First, make sure no one is allergic to the animal - if someone is, you will have to vacuum your house really well and consider an air purifier to reduce the amount of allergens in the air.

Also, you need to make sure your pet has been socialized well with people. This needs to be done well ahead of time, so there’s no use starting now - it’s too late (but you can get started now for Christmas and next Thanksgiving!). If you have absolutely no clue what socializing means, you need to get your paws on a copy of my book “Things You Must Know Before and After Getting Your Dog” - the topic of socialization is discussed in great detail. If your dog is not used to being around people, and can be aggressive sometimes, it would be better for you to keep her in a room by herself. If the weather is very nice where you live, keeping her outside is not a bad idea either (just make sure she has plenty of food and fresh water all day long and that you check up on her every once in awhile).

Think about the way your pet feels about this time of year - it is stressful for her too! All the people in her house, everyone moving around, the loud noise, and the great smells! Older dogs tend to be less tolerant of rough-housing and playing therefore small children should be discouraged from teasing your dog. Some young puppies and kittens could be in danger if left to roam around the house. If you have a large amount of guests, the chances she may get stepped on are very high, so think about that when deciding what you should do with your pet during Thanksgiving.

If you are keeping your pet inside, make sure there is food and fresh water available and that she is taken outside on a regular basis. Some animals get overly excited when guests are over - you don’t want your Thanksgiving to come to a screeching halt because your dog chose the wrong place and the wrong time to relieve herself!

The best thing you as a pet owner can do is train your animal. If you have a pet who is properly trained, the holiday season will not be stressful for you at all! You know your pet will behave when you have company over, and there aren’t any behavior issues you have to be concerned with. The season is all about laughing, loving, and sharing with family members - pets included! - so don’t leave your animals out! They need their time with you too, just make sure you are available to give it.

Be sure to check back for Friday’s post! I will be showcasing the Halloween pictures submitted!!

Thanks for reading! As always your participation in comments and discussions are encouraged and greatly appreciated!!