To watch a dog eat, you'd think that Thanksgiving would be his favorite day of the year. But, it turns out that our annual human feast can cause a lot of distress for our animal companions.
"Pets won't be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink," says the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The ASPCA has a lot of advice for pet lovers to heed, as the holidays get closer.
If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it's boneless and well-cooked. And, a little nibble is just that. Hard as it may be, ignore those begging eyes when they say, "More, please."
Lots of people use sage in their stuffing. But, the ASPCA warns, it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.
Another don't on the pet treat list is raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.
And, as much as you might want to spoil them rotten, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the raw cake batter, especially if it includes raw eggs, which could contain salmonella. In fact, that's good advice for humans, too.
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You can find more tips for Thanksgiving pet safety at the ASPCA's website.
And remember, the best way to say thanks for your pet's love, is to sometimes, say "No!"
You're a good boy, but, "No!"
