Thanksgiving pet safety tips

Is turkey bad for dogs? The age old question...
Our best answer is when in doubt, don't feed your pet from the table, or "people" food as we call it.
The meat itself is supposedly not bad, but the typtophan in it can cause problems. Too much of any meat, especially fatty meats, will cause diarrhea or irritable bowels. And don't be tempted to give a dog a bone - they're a no-no - no bones, skin, seasoned meat or carcass.

Keep in mind that onions and garlic are harmful, if not fatal to your pets. Onions and garlic contain thiosulphate, which damages red blood cells and can cause anemia in cats and dogs. The onion actually presents the highest risk of toxicity — a single generous serving can cause anemia for dogs and cats. Whether garlic contains enough thiosulphate and can be fed in high enough amounts to harm dogs is a matter of controversy — garlic is less toxic than onion, and large amounts would need to be eaten to cause illness. And, in small amounts (such as in canine nutritional supplements), the benefits of garlic outweigh their possible risks.

Chocolate can be fatal - The darker the chocolate and lower the dog's body weight, the more damage it will do. The caffeine and theobromine in chocolate can cause a dog to vomit, have diarrhea, experience rapid heartbeat, increased urination, muscle tremors and seizures.  The effects can be serious, and chocolate toxicity can occur within 24 hours. The same can be true of coffee, tea and cola, as they also contain caffeine.

A few traditional treats are also surprisingly bad for pets...

Many cat owners don’t realize that milk isn’t well tolerated by most cats. Dairy products are often overly fatty, so it’s best to avoid giving dairy to dogs as well.

Clear the drink glasses!
Most people are aware that too much alcohol can poison humans. Remember that your pet is a lot smaller than you are (unless you have an irish wolfhound), so even small amounts of alcohol (even beer) can be toxic.

Other little details...
Keep lit candles out of wagging-tail reach - or any pet reach for that matter. The same goes for potpourri. Now's the time where we drag out the extension cords - secure them to the walls or baseboards so your pet can't get tangled, or worse yet, strangled overnight.

So while you're indulging on your big holiday meals, think of you're pet's safety and we'll all be sure to enjoy the season.