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Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Your Dog

Pet care expert, magazine columnist and radio and television pet care personality, Charlotte Reed discusses keeping your pet safe during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Pet care expert, magazine columnist, radio and television pet care personality, Charlotte Reed offers Thanksgiving pet care tips that will ensure a happy holiday for you and your pet.

Charlotte Reed and her dog Burberry

“The fragrant smell of Thanksgiving dinner permeating throughout your home is likely to whip your four-legged friend into a food frenzy,” says Reed. “Unfortunately, the holiday meal could be lethal for your pet but by following a few simple precautions, you will ensure the upcoming holiday weekend will be happy and healthy for the entire family.

Charlotte suggests when planning for Thanksgiving, consider the following:

1. Don’t give your animal different food than they would normal get. Feeding turkey to your dog or cat can cause him or her unwanted abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea, none of which are welcome during this festive weekend.

2. Discourage your family members and guests from indulging your pet with inappropriate snacks. Food high in sodium (especially peanuts and chips) and other fatty foods like poultry skin, beef or port fat can cause an inflammation of pancreas. Pancreatitis is potentially life-threatening condition.

3. Dispose of aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and wax paper from holiday foods. If you pet can get to it, he or she will lick the food off foils or wraps. The swallowing of such coverings can cause an intestinal obstruction.

4. Secure your garbage. It only takes a minute for your little scavenger to get into the garbage and wolf down whatever smells good-including the string used to tie the turkey.

5. Keep chocolate away from you dog. Chocolate, which contains theobromine and caffeine, can be harmful to your pooch. Rapid breathing and hyperactivity are signs of bad reaction to chocolate.

6. Turkey bones are also dangerous for you pet. Any brittle, spiky bone could lodge in the esophagus or cause an irritation of his or her stomach or intestines.

7. Maintain his regular schedule for feeding and exercise. Minimizing the stress of animal means being aware of his daily routine and expectations. Pay as much attention to your pet as usual so that he will not feel neglected or insecure.

8. Keep your pet home and away from parade celebrations. With the large crowds, your pet can become stressed or even worse, can get lost in the crowd.

9. Make sure your furry friend has fresh water at all times. Frequently check your pet’s water bowl to make sure the supply is clean. Busy children and relatives may bump a bowl and spill the water.

10. Provide a quiet refuge for your animal. With all the holidays fanfare, you pet will need a “time out” from visiting friends and family. A comfortable crate is one solution; a room with a “Do Not Disturb” sign is another. Give your dog or cat time and space to settle down or take a nap.

11. Keep current registration and identification tags on you pet. With guests coming in and out of your home, it is very easy for a door to be left ajar and for your animal to wander off.

By being aware of these dangers to your pet, you can ensure both you and your pet the best possible holidays.

Charlotte Reed is a pet expert and columnist for several magazines including American Magazine, Fido Friendly and the New York Resident. She has also written pet care articles for Dog Fancy, Good Housekeeping, Time Inc.’s new, All You and Travel girl. She is the voice of Purina One brand pet food on Infinity’s 10101WINS. Because of her love for animals, Miss Reed, a former attorney, switched careers and founded Two Dogs & A Goat Incorporated, a New York-based complete pet care service in 1996. Charlotte has shared her expertise on pets with millions of people through her Pet-Owning Made Easy series of booklets and her appearances on ABC's The View, CNN, Good Day New York, Fox Pet News and other radio and TV shows. She is currently writing two books on pet-related topics. She can speak about everything from pet health, new companion animal products, and pet trends including pet etiquette.

For more information on Charlotte Reed, visit her website: www.charlottereed.com

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