Happy Fall Y’all! Dug the Dog here. The season has arrived, and we have officially made it to November. Now is the time to start preparing for the family gatherings and the wonderful Thanksgiving dinner that lies ahead. As that time approaches, I have a few reminders to keep us pets safe during the holiday season.
First, to our parents- we want to remind you to ensure that we have a collar on with an identification tag that contains a current phone number, and please make sure our microchip information is up to date. Many of us gather with family and friends for a nice Thanksgiving dinner, which leads to a lot of people going in and out of the house. It is very important that if you host this gathering to let your guests know to watch out for us furry friends when opening and closing doors and closets. Also, be sure to never give us table food without checking with our parents first. There are many safe and not so safe foods that we can eat. The AKC has put together a great list of safe and NOT safe foods that we can or cannot have this holiday season, and we summarized it to share with you!
SAFE FOODS
- Sweet Potatoes-great source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and beta-carotene
- Potatoes-give only boiled or baked potatoes with no butter, sour cream, salt, or pepper, and serve in moderation
- Apples–full of vitamins A and C and contain lots of great fiber, making them a healthy Thanksgiving treat for your pet. However, if you’re sharing an apple with your pooch, be sure to cut around the core, as large amounts of apple seeds can be toxic
- Turkey meat (no bones, no skin)- The outer layer of the poultry is likely to have been prepared with butter, spices, or other fatty ingredients that may cause pancreatitis or other issues for your dog. Steer clear from the skin and only feed non-seasoned parts with no bones!
- Green beans-with ample amounts of plant fiber, manganese, and vitamins C and K, plain green beans are great for your pets. Just make sure no butter, seasonings, or salts!
- Peas- Plain peas please! Just avoid the creamed peas due to the fattier content as it may upset our tummies.
- Pumpkin-actually helps with digestive health and it’s great for the skin and coat! Just make sure it is pure pumpkin and not the spiced pie mix!
For dessert consider a Frosty Paw by Purina!!!
NOT SO SAFE FOODS
- Turkey bones, skin, and gravy
- Stuffing-most stuffing contains onions and raisins!
- Casseroles
- Mashed potatoes-due to butter and salt added to it
- Creamed peas
- Chocolate, cookies, pies, and sweets (including anything containing xylitol)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Raisins and grapes
- Onions, scallions, and garlic
- Ham
- Yeast dough
- Fatty foods
- Foods containing spices
Now that we have covered all the yummy food that we get to enjoy this Thanksgiving, let’s talk about the reason we all gather for this joyous time. There are so many things that I am thankful for, and I think it is important that we share these feelings with others. I wanted to ask the team at Your Visiting Veterinarian why they are thankful for their pets, and what they think their pets are thankful for as well!
Dr. Renner said she is thankful for her horse, Caesar, and her dog, Vinny!
“I got my horse, Caesar, when I was in high school. I competed with him in lower level 3-day eventing. My first season eventing, I fell off on the cross-country course in all but one of my competitions. I didn’t give up and kept training, and our second season competing we were ranked second place nationally in our division. I am thankful Caesar taught me about hard work, perseverance, and that he didn’t give up on me. He followed me to OSU for my undergrad years and vet school. He has always been my stress reliever and I think the best therapy is a long trail ride. He is also a great first horse for our 2-year-old son to brush and ride. He has always been an integral part of our family. My husband even brought Caesar a 50lb bag of horse treats to win his blessing the day after he proposed to me. We take care of Caesar as a family every day, so Caesar gets love from all of us.”
“Vinny is our golden/lab mix. My husband and I arrived home from our honeymoon and decided to go to the shelter “just to look.” Well, you know what happens next. Vinny has truly been the best family dog. I am grateful for his unbelievable patience with children and his love of attention and affection. I think Vinny is grateful that we feed him, and for the table scraps our son drops for him. He is also grateful for his daily exercise and all belly rubs.”
Jen is thankful for her dog, Bailey, and her three cats, Jersey, Daisy, and Turtle.
“I’m thankful for their comfort, companionship and unconditional love and I think that they are thankful for warm beds, food in their bellies and a mom who loves them unconditionally.”
Billie has many thanks to give for her many pets! She has Daisy and Brix, her dogs, Willow, Tubby, Tucker, Romeo and Riley, her cats, and Diesel, her horse, along with other animals at her farm in South Carolina!
“I could write a book on the things I am thankful for concerning my pets, but I will try to keep it short. My pets are my fur children, and they all bring me so much joy. I could not imagine my life without my animals. Some days are hard and stressful, but they all show me unconditional love no matter the mood. I am grateful for their presence, and love to see them all happy and healthy. I think that they are most thankful to have such a great mom! All my babies are spoiled rotten but also understand manners and obedience. We all have learned from each other, and each one has their own personality. I think they enjoy me as much as I enjoy them.”
We here at YVV would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving and know that we are so very thankful for all of you!
Source: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/thanksgiving-foods-to-share-with-your-dog-or-avoid/
