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Posted: November 20, 2006
Bonnie the Beagle loved the holidays. She adored being the center of attention as the extended family gathered for the traditional Thanksgiving feast and finding those hands at the dinner table secretly holding down morsels of turkey for her to eat.
After dinner was the best part. A special bowl of leftovers just for her dining pleasure; dressing and turkey skin liberally coated with giblet gravy, topped off with a shining turkey leg bone. Like most dog owners, the sentimentality of the holiday overcame common sense. Within 24-hours Bonnie’s owners were taking a disoriented, listless beagle to the vet where it was discovered sharp shards of splintered turkey bone had punctured her gastrointestinal tract. It was hit and miss for several days before Bonnie was returned home after promises she was never again to engage in a festive feast to celebrate the holiday season.
Actually, aside from hollow turkey. duck and chicken bones, notorious for splintering into razor sharp shards, raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate, walnuts and macadamia nuts (all popular holiday ingredients) are toxic to dogs and especially dangerous for smaller dogs.
Turkey skin is a popular treat for dogs, but consuming large quantities of fatty food like poultry skin can lead to gastric distress, causing vomiting and diarrhea. Large quantities of “just for the holiday” foods can turn bad quickly when it comes to pet stomachs used to feeding upon a standard bland diet.
If feeding your pet a large chunk of gobbler, ensure any trussing strings are removed and look for a pop-up timer that may have not been removed.
During your holiday feast give your dog a new chewy to keep him occupied during the meal. Advise your guests you don’t want anyone sharing food with the dog.
Watch for small children who may be tempted to feed your four-footed cutie pie. Little hands can be snapped up quicker than you can say “happy thanksgiving.”
Keep centerpieces and especially lit candles in safe places out of reach of your pets. A waggy tail can quickly destroy a celebration as candles and florals are swished off a table. Many types of berries and plants are poisonous to pets.
Uncle David, Aunt Judy and the gang may be welcomed guests to you, but for a pet not used to strangers, they can create anxiety in your pet who can ruin the holiday through unruly behavior. If not used to being in a crowd or familiar with your guests, place your pet in a secure spot with a special holiday chew for his protection and that of your guests. Anxious animals can quickly escape out an opened door.
If you wish to share your holiday bounty with your pet, add a few pieces of boneless, skinless turkey meat to their regular food. For pets that eat dry food you can add a small amount of broth, just enough to moisten their regular dry dog food.
Always watch for bloat, a gastric condition that can be deadly for your dog, commonly caused by too much gas or fluid in the stomach from eating too fast. Gulping of food and water is a common behavior at excitable times when yummy treats are given followed by excitement and exercise. Abdominal distention, restlessness, rapid heart rate, retching, lethargy are all warning signs and should be attended to by a vet immediately.
For those fido-less persons looking for a dog, there’s no better time than now to check out the outstanding selection of animals available at the Plano Animal Shelter. Low-costs adoptions are accompanied by lots of tail wagging and lickings as a shelter-full of potential pets, including purebreds, looks for new homes.
Check out the shelter’s site here.
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