But the holidays are not over yet, and with Thanksgiving and Christmas now just around the corner, we still need to be careful about feeding people food to our pets. Along with the harmful effects of chocolate, other types of people food are bad for our pets, and can make them very sick.
1) Anything fatty (such as turkey skin) can cause pancreatitis. This can be as mild as an upset stomach and some vomiting, to as severe as death. Pancreatitis can worsen quickly, and become very bad very quickly. It is nothing to mess around with. Most pets that come into our clinic with pancreatitis are SICK, and need to be on IV fluids, GI medication, a bland diet, and a lot of rest. Some cases have even been referred to 24 hour veterinary facilities, simply because the pet is so sick that he/she needs 'round the clock care. Please be sure to again tell your guests and children not to feed your pets anything, and make sure to keep the trash out of reach. Trash cans at this time of year smell like heaven to pets, and even the most well behaved of them are tempted to go dumpster diving. Take the temptation away.
2) Along with fatty foods making Fido sick, also make sure to keep those turkey bones away from your pets. Cooked turkey bones may seem like a good thing for Fido to use as a chew toy, but the truth of the matter is, once bones of any kind are cooked, they become very brittle and splinter very easily. This means that once your pet has ingested the splintered pieces of a turkey bone, the esophagus, stomach, and/or intestines can become perforated or torn from the sharp bone pieces. Bones can also cause a GI obstruction or blockage. This is a very dangerous medical emergency to have happen to your pet, and would require an expensive surgery to fix the damage. Again, please make sure the trash can (and your Thanksgiving all day buffet) are out of reach of your pets.
3) Raw foods can make your pets very sick, especially raw turkey. Just like with humans, ingesting raw meat can increase the chance of your pets picking up Salmonella or E. coli. And just like with humans, these bacteria can make your pets VERY sick. So while you are thawing that turkey out to be cooked, please take the necessary precautions to make sure that your pets will not be able to get a hold of it. Keep it up high or contained in a place where Fido cannot get to.
It may be best to keep your pets in a separate room during food prep, dinner, and clean up, just to make sure that he/she will not get into any dangerous situations regarding food (or food wrappers for that matter!). Several pet stores sell pet friendly treats, so make Fido feel special this holiday season by buying a special treat just for him. Again, remember to watch those calories!
If you do suspect that your pet has eaten something bad, please contact your local vet right away.
I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season, for both you and your pets!
