Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Dogs

Thanksgiving is a time where friends and family come together and appreciate all the different things they’re grateful for. Your canine companion can also be apart of these fun festivities activities, but boundaries need to be set. Things can go from sentimental to scary fast if you don’t prepare for Thanksgiving with a furry friend around. To help ease your stress a bit during this busy time we have collected a variety of safety tips in hopes of keeping your pup as safe as possible this Thanksgiving.

Steer Clear of the Kitchen

There are multiple reasons Fido should be kept out of the kitchen. For sanitary reasons first and foremost, you don’t want your dog to sneak a lick or bite of any of your dishes behind your back. On top of that, there are sure to be plenty of dangerously hot dishes floating around from counter to counter. If an accident were to happen, you wouldn’t want your furry friend to get burned or cut from shattered glass. Another reason often forgot about, is the trashcan. Scraps of food will be continuously put into your trashcan, which may become extremely tempting for your pup. If they end up getting into the garbage they could consume not only dangerous food, but aluminum, and plastic as well; little to people know but the main reason dogs are sent to the emergency room during the holidays is due to them festering in the trashcan for leftovers. So either keep this as out of reach as possible or in a room they are not able to enter.

Holiday foods to keep away from Fido

As tempting as it may be, you should not be feeding your dog your Thanksgiving scraps. Many of the foods we find delicious are toxic to your poor pooch. Turkey skin, gravy, and buttery side dishes are filled with oils and fats that will easily upset your dog’s digestive tract. Any bones not explicitly made for your dog should not be given to them. The cooked bones from your turkey are hollow and will easily splinter causing scratches and cuts as well as dangering your dog’s sensitive intestines. The most apparent food to avoid is chocolate, and we don’t believe you’d intentionally feed your dog this toxic treat, but it’s vital to ensure any chocolate is kept out of site and then hopefully out of mind.

Festive Decorations can become an issue

It may only be Thanksgiving, but many people are already decking their halls with holly and poinsettias that are extremely toxic to your poor pup. So be sure to check and see which plants you should either avoid or keep out of reach from Fido. Also, remember to keep any glass ornaments or lit candles somewhere high or not easily accessible to your dog so they can’t be easily broken.

What can your canine companion consume?

If you’re feeling extra and want to create your own special meal for your furry friend, there are plenty of dog-friendly recipes you can find across the web. You can create anything from doggy pumpkin pies to a safe homemade turkey. If you think this will only add more stress to the season, you can just indulge your pooch with their favorite treats. You can even get them a new food-filled toy that will keep them satisfied and distracted.

Educate your Guests on these Dos and Don’ts

Many lessons you’ve learned as a pup-parent your guests may not be as informed on. Educate your visitors before or upon arrival on what your pup can and can’t eat; urging them not to share any of their leftovers, no matter how cute your dog may look when they beg. You can even provide some of your guests with dog treats that they can provide for your pup to encourage good behavior.

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and it can bring on a lot of stress, so don’t let a preventable accident ruin your Thanksgiving dinner. Keep your pup safe, so you can have one less thing to worry about.