When you’re celebrating Thanksgiving or other winter holidays with your family, you might not be as aware of what your pets are getting into. You might even think your pets can join in on the celebration and feed them scraps from the table or while you’re cooking or baking. Certain holiday and Thanksgiving foods can be very dangerous to pets, however, and can cause accidental poisoning or toxicity. Holiday decor can also pose a choking hazard or cause illness or injury. Follow these holiday safety tips for your pets, and if you notice any signs of illness or injury, bring them to a pet emergency and urgent care facility in Bozeman, MT.
Be Careful When Cooking or Baking
Be careful when you’re cooking, baking, and preparing meals. If possible, keep your pet out of the kitchen entirely. If that isn’t possible, try not to drop food or ingredients on the floor, don’t feed your pet scraps, and keep your pet out of the trash. Many holiday cooking and baking ingredients can cause illness or poisoning if your pet ingests them, and some ingredients are just unhealthy for your pet. Other items can be a choking hazard or cause dangerous bowel obstructions. Tell your kids and other household members to be mindful of your pets when cooking or baking as well.
Keep Certain Foods and Drinks Out of Reach
While it may be tempting to feed your pets scraps from your holiday meal, you could be unintentionally poisoning them or making them sick. Keep certain holiday foods and drinks out of reach of your pets and be vigilant about the warning signs of pet poisoning. Here are some of the holiday foods, drinks, and ingredients that are most dangerous to pets:
- Fatty meats, meat drippings, oils, and grease
- Gravies
- Raw or undercooked meat or eggs
- Uncooked dough or yeast
- Sugar, salt, and spices
- Artificial sweeteners like xylitol
- Sugar-free drinks and candies
- Chocolate
- Nuts
- Grapes and raisins
- Onions and chives
- Garlic
- Milk and dairy products
- Alcohol
- Peanut butter
- Animal bones
Educate Holiday Houseguests and Visitors
Be sure that anyone who visits your home or stays with you over the holidays is aware of the foods, drinks, and other items that could be dangerous to your pets. Let them know that they shouldn’t give your pets human foods or drinks or treats. Tell them if your pet has any allergies or special dietary or medical issues as well.
Know What to Do in a Holiday Pet Emergency
If your pet is lethargic, refusing to eat, panting or drooling excessively, wheezing, having trouble breathing, or showing signs of stomach or gastrointestinal issues, you should take him to an emergency veterinary hospital right away. At Pet Emergency Trauma Services, we specialize in pet emergency and after-hours medical care in Bozeman, MT. We open at 7:00 a.m. every Friday and provide 24/7 emergency care through Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. We are closed from 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday through Friday at 7:00 a.m. Call us now to let us know you’re coming in for a pet emergency.
