Your team at the Berwick Animal Clinic wishes you and your family – two and four legged - a safe, happy, and relaxing Thanksgiving. We would like to share a few thoughts with you in relation to what your pets should and shouldn’t be eating over the holidays.

Some internet sites you browse may state that giving your dog a few small, boneless, and well-cooked pieces of turkey should be fine. Our recommendation? Don’t. Sometimes even a small amount of turkey, or turkey skin, can cause a life-threatening condition known as pancreatitis, which is an inflammation or swelling of the pancreas. Pancreatitis can cause vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain. Not exactly what you plan for a relaxing holiday…

Turkey bones? They are also a big NO. Not only are they a choking hazard, but they also have the potential to splinter inside your pet’s digestive tract…which, at the least, results in a good portion of your holiday being spent at an emergency veterinary clinic.

Other concerns? Fatty foods such as butter, bacon, meat drippings, and gravies can have the same effects as turkey meat itself. Did you happen to brine your turkey? Once the turkey is removed, this salty solution can be very attractive to dogs and cats, who will lap it up…which will more than likely result in salt toxicosis. This can cause excessive thirst and urination, our old friends vomiting and diarrhea, and can potentially result in serious electrolyte changes and swelling of the brain. Once again…holiday time with the emergency vet.

Let’s move away from the main course and discuss other foods that are fun for us but not for our furry family members. Some foods and seasonings are also poisonous to them – including onions, raisins, garlic, leeks, chives, currants, and grapes. Avoid giving them to your pets directly, or by giving them anything cooked with these ingredients – green beans, potatoes, stuffing, or gravy are some possible examples. The artificial sweetener xylitol can also be deadly to dogs and cats. Sweet to us doesn’t equal sweet to pets.

If eaten, unbaked yeast dough can rise and expand causing gas, bloating, and potentially blockage of the intestinal tract. The natural fermentation of the yeast in their stomach can also lead to alcohol poisoning.

Other thoughts? Don’t leave food out where an unattended pet can reach it, and ensure all trash is placed in secure waste containers. All it takes is “just this once” for a trip to…you guessed it…the emergency veterinary hospital.

So…if we can’t feed them the above when they look at us so cute and “hungry”, what can we do? Well…how about some pet friendly options to soothe their hunger and stomach? Raw fruits and vegetables such as baby carrots, green beans, apples, sweet potato chunks, and pumpkin puree are great options!

We’ll be enjoying a relaxing Thanksgiving weekend with our friends, family, and furry companions – we hope that you’re able to do the same!