THANKSGIVING TIPS AND FOODS TO AVOID
The leaves are turning orange, the air is getting colder and Starbucks has released their famous pumpkin spice lattes once again. This must mean only one thing – Fall is officially upon us! With the onset of Fall we can all look forward to those treasured holidays consisting of gatherings with friends and family; and of course lots of food. Naturally, we want our four legged family members to join in on the fun, but we also want to keep them safe (an expensive midnight trip to the vet because Fido ate something he shouldn’t have isn’t so appealing). So therefore we created this blog to help you and your pet make the most of Thanksgiving while avoiding any potential hazards!
TURKEY
While we’re enjoying that big juicy Thanksgiving turkey, it can be
tempting to give some to our pets, but this may not be the safest option. The turkeys we make for Thanksgiving are injected with a lot of butter and oils for flavoring that are very unhealthy for dogs. Avoid feeding turkey meat, gravy, 
or turkey drippings as this can give your dog an upset tummy, and possibly cause diarrhea and vomiting. Inflammation of the pancreas can also result from consuming turkey that’s high in fat. You should also never feed your dogs cooked turkey bones as these can splinter and puncture your dog’s esophagus or other organs. You can however buy your dog some raw turkey necks, hearts, livers or meat to enjoy with you on Thanksgiving day.
CRANBERRY AND PUMPKIN
If you follow our blogs, you’ve probably heard about the many reasons why we love cranberry for urinary problems and pumpkin for digestive problems in dogs. While this is all true, remember that the pumpkin in our pie filling and the cranberry sauce we have with our turkey are not the type that will benefit your dog. Loaded with sugars and preservatives-these two foods can do more harm than good. Keep your dog away from preservatives and sugar and instead try giving him all natural canned or frozen pumpkin, or dried cranberry – both without added sugar.
CHOCOLATE
We all know that chocolate is deadly to dogs but not everyone knows why. Chocolate contains methylxanthine theobromine, a compound similar to caffeine, that is used medicinally as a diuretic, heart stimulant, blood vessel dilator and a smooth muscle relaxer. In dogs, too much theobromine is poisonous and can result in vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, panting and even seizures and coma leading to death. Even though chocolate is widely known as a poison to dogs, it is important to mention because during the holidays we often have friends or family visiting who may not be familiar with this fact. Be sure to keep an eye on your dog during gatherings and educate your guests, particularly small children, not to feed the dog chocolate and to make sure not to leave any chocolate unattended where the dog may have access to. Different types of chocolate have varying levels of toxicity, ranging from bakers chocolate or cocoa, which is quite lethal, to milk chocolate which may not cause serious harm in small amounts.  If you are concerned that your dog may have ingested chocolate, monitor him closely and contact your veterinarian for further guidance.
TRASH
So, you’ve finished eating your thanksgiving feast, cleaned up the dishes, and everyone’s gathered in the living room to enjoy each other’s company while recuperating from their turkey comas. You may be done eating but Fido just watched you throw all those yummy leftovers in a trash bag and leave it by the back door to bring out before dessert- Jackpot! He sneaks in the kitchen when no ones looking and goes to town. Now you’ve got a big mess to clean up and a potentially very sick pup. Turkey bones and fat, leftover cranberry sauce and probably some non food items have been consumed and you don’t even know what in particular he ate or how much. Instead of enjoying the rest of your evening, now you have to worry and monitor your dog all night, with a possible vet visit in your future. No one wants to go through this on what is supposed to be a relaxing holiday spent catching up with family. Make sure to take that trash out right away and keep am eye on your dog so he doesn’t get into mischief!
QUICK TIPS
Here’s some quick tips to refer back to that will help keep your dog safe and happy this holiday season!
- do not feed:Â chocolate, cooked turkey bones, fat, onions, garlic, alcohol.
- take the trash out:Â don’t give your dog the chance to get into the garbage and make himself sick
- reduce stress:Â large gatherings of people making noise can frighten many dogs. Make sure they have a safe, quiet place they can go to if they are overwhelmed. Some toys, a bed and a nice raw bone can make a great retreat!
- ID your dog:Â frightened dogs may bolt, make sure your dog is properly identified in case this should happen.
Most importantly, remember to enjoy the holiday season, while keeping your four legged family members safe. Also, make sure they have a special treat to celebrate thanksgiving along with you! While cooked turkey and bones are not safe, raw ones are an awesome, healthy treat so your dog can feel included in your turkey dinner.
Stop by our Raw Pet Food Store in Kerrisdale and pick up some healthy and natural Turkey Dinner for your dogs, or if you happen to be running a little late with your own turkey we also deliver to Richmond, Vancouver and Burnaby!