Save Your Pet an Emergency Trip to the Vet
The day after Thanksgiving may be the biggest shopping day of the year for us humans. But Black Friday has a different meaning in the world of veterinary medicine. It's unofficially known as National Vomiting and Diarrhea Day and is their busiest day of the year.
Many Foods We Eat on Holidays Are Toxic to Pets
Holidays bring us a lot of joy, getting together with friends and family and feasting on all sorts of goodies we don't usually enjoy. We also want our pets to enjoy the festivities; they are part of the family! Unfortunately, this feasting can send us and our pets to the Emergency Room (ER).
Human ERs see increased visits after holidays for chest pain, which is often related to our overindulgence, but it's best to be seen.
Overindulgence in pets can lead to … you guessed it … vomiting and diarrhea!
Yes, dogs evolved to eat meat, and a little shouldn't hurt, but any change in diet can upset his system.
Turkey skin, for example, is high in fat and while a tiny piece may delight his taste buds, too much means the bacteria that live in his gut will get a fatty feast. Those happy little bacteria will reproduce like rabbits with all that food to spare! Now he has a greasy gut and way too many bacteria. Fast forward (literally), and he's bugging you for extra trips to the lawn with liquid poo that will dehydrate him and get his electrolytes out of balance and can even progress to a nasty painful bout of pancreatitis.
Puppies, seniors, and dogs with "sensitive stomachs" are most at risk. Now you are looking at an emergency trip to a vet.
If you don't call early when your vet can even think about squeezing you into the schedule, then you will be directed to an ER.
Speaking of the vet squeezing you into the schedule. Be appreciative when you are there - your vet may be double or triple-booked trying to ensure all the pets get seen because they care more about your pet than their own health. (Ask how often they skip lunch and go home late).
Many foods we eat on holidays are toxic to pets, such as chocolate, onions, sage, and nutmeg, and can cause more trouble than just vomiting and diarrhea.
Check out my Paw Talk about Dangers of Halloween Candy for Your Dog.
Oh, and make sure you plan ahead for that trip to the ER and add that to your holiday budget. Hopefully, you won't need it. There is always Cyber Monday for using up any extra cash.
How to Keep Fido and Fluffy Safe
Guests can also be a risk factor. You may resolve not to let your dog Fido prewash the dishes. However, that doesn't mean your guests will behave.
You may know the dangers of cooked bones but have a family member who thinks dogs can eat anything. We all have that one family member: "...he'll be fine — dogs have been eating (insert the word here) for years." It's ok to roll your eyes now.
Guests are also less likely to make sure cat Fluffy doesn't get out when they come in the door and don't know that Fido will go shopping through their purse and eat that toxic gum full of Xylitol. The American Veterinary Association has an excellent write-up on the dangers of the season. I encourage you to give it a quick read: Thanksgiving Pet Safety
So how do you keep your furry loved ones safe?
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Keep Fido and Fluffy out of the kitchen, where food drops can be stolen off the counter when your back is turned.
Consider confining them to a room of the house away from all the commotion where guests won't accidentally let them loose. This is especially important for cats, who generally want to hide from all the noise anyway. Cats can be very stressed just by having a bunch of people in their house. So watch Fluffy for signs of stress-induced illness after the holidays. Hiding for a day to make sure the coast is clear is one thing; continuing to hide for days, not using the litter box, or reducing food/water intake means a trip to the vet.
Dogs often want to be included in the festivities but should still be kicked out of the kitchen and dining area; consider a baby gate or other barrier.
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Ensure food is up where Fido can't reach it.
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Don't delay getting leftovers into the fridge, which is a good idea anyway to prevent bacterial growth that can put your health at risk.
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Remove the trash. Despite that full tummy and the overwhelming desire to sleep, get the trash out of the house before you relax.
For the Dog Only!
Consider helping your guests behave by putting Fido's dinner in a candy bowl with a sign on it: For the Dog Only!
Let them hand feed him his dinner as treats all night.
You can also make pet-safe cookies and break them into tiny kibble-sized pieces. Once that candy bowl is empty, Fido is all done for the night.
If guests bring "treats" to feed him, they may be less likely to indulge him from their own plate.
During dinner, you can also lock Fido up, just like Fluffy. It's easier to ignore those pleading they-never-feed-me-eyes if your guests can't see them.
Holidays are so much fun but can also be expensive and perilous. Planning ahead is key!
Here are some links to pet-safe cookie recipes that are lower in fat than our treats and free of toxic ingredients: