Ensuring Thanksgiving Safety for Our Furry Family Members

Overindulging in the family feast can be unhealthy for humans, but even worse for pets. Fatty foods are hard for animals to digest, poultry bones can damage your pet’s digestive tract, and holiday sweets can contain ingredients that are poisonous to your pets.

Keep your food ON the table, not UNDER it! Turkey and turkey skin, sometimes even in small amounts, can cause a life-threatening condition in pets known as pancreatitis. Many foods that are healthy for people are poisonous to pets, including onions, raisins and grapes. A small piece of turkey (make sure it’s boneless, white and cooked all the way through) or a lick of mashed potatoes will not harm your pet, but anything more than that could potentially be harmful. If you want to give your pet a special Thanksgiving treat, give them a made-for-pets chew bone, OR make them a special dinner, taking their regular food and adding a few tidbits of turkey, vegetables (either sweet potato or green beans) and a few dribbles of gravy (make sure it does not contain onions or seasoning which can irritate their tummies).

Thanksgiving usually means a lot of baking of fresh bread and rolls. Don’t spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him access to raw yeast bread dough. When a dog or cat ingests this, the yeast continues to convert the sugars in the dough to carbon dioxide gas and alcohol. This can result in bloated, drunk pets, which could become a life-threatening emergency.

If you’re having people over, remember your pet may get overwhelmed, even if they are used to having people around. They may try to escape, so be sure to have an ID tag on your pet and make sure they’re microchipped, and the information attached to their microchip is current. Give them a safe place to hang out and relax, especially when you start eating, so they don’t get in the way, and your guests won’t be tempted to sneak them food.

Be careful with decorations. Special holiday displays or candles are attractive to pets as well as people, so never leave a pet alone in an area with a lit candle as it could result in a fire. Pinecones, needles and other decorations can cause intestinal blockage or even perforate an animal’s intestines if eaten.

The holidays are a time of giving thanks, family, food, celebrations and fun! Taking a few extra precautions will ensure your pet stays safe and can enjoy the celebrations with you.

During this Thanksgiving season, Yavapai Humane Society extends its heartfelt gratitude to all of our supporters for your unwavering dedication and generosity. Your support has been instrumental in our mission and to provide shelter, care, love and hope to countless animals in need. As we come together to celebrate the spirit of giving, your contributions have not only made a difference in the lives of the animals we serve but have also touched the lives of many in our community through our Community Pet Food Pantry, our Safety Net Program and more. We are deeply thankful for your commitment, and it is your compassion and support that allow us to continue our vital work, ensuring a brighter future for the animals who depend on us. From all of us at Yavapai Humane Society, we wish you a joyous and meaningful Thanksgiving. QCBN

By Loree Walden

Loree Walden is the marketing manager at Yavapai Humane Society.