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It’s a safe bet that Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday for many of us — and our pets! After all, they too have been smelling the yummy aromas emanating from the kitchen all day. But while we’re celebrating, giving thanks, and tucking into our carefully prepared feasts, it’s important to keep in mind that many common Thanksgiving staples can cause stomach upset in pets, or even potentially more serious conditions. So, how do you keep your pets safe, but also allow them to enjoy the holiday? Here are some tips to help keep the holiday safe for our furry friends:

• Keep in mind that there are plenty of Thanksgiving foods and ingredients that can be toxic to our pets, such as onions/garlic, chocolate, macadamia nuts, raisins/grapes/currants, and xylitol (a sugar substitute).

• Avoid giving your pet gravy, dark meat, or anything too fatty. One of the most common conditions we see the day after Thanksgiving is pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. This is a potentially serious problem that can be triggered by your pet eating much fattier foods than they are accustomed to; symptoms can include stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.

• Keep bones, corn cobs, and garbage well out of the way, as well as all discarded food packaging. We have seen plenty of pets who were happy to eat the tin foil that just had turkey IN it!!

• If you are hosting, make sure to keep your pets secure as guests come in and out, and the door to your home opens and closes more frequently. With all of the excitement and greetings, it’s very easy for a nervous kitty or doggy to slip out during the flurry.

• If you have a pooch that likes to nose around in bags, remember that guests may have prescription or over-the-counter medications that can be a source of toxicity.

• It may be a good idea to give nervous pets a safe, secure place to hang out during the whole holiday. A cozy room with a closed door and a comfy bed, soothing music or a sound machine, and even sedative medications (see below) may be the best option for some. This can help avoid a lot of potential problems!

• Changes in routine or the bustle of visitors can leave some pets feeling stressed, and they may benefit from taking situational anxiety medications. Please reach out to our medical team if you need to refill a prescription, or would like to discuss options. Even if you don’t have time to book an appointment before the holiday, we may be able to schedule a phone consultation (if your pet has been examined by a doctor within the past six months), and then call medications in to your local pharmacy.

• In the end, the safest thing for your pet’s health is to resist the urge to feed them table scraps. But if you *must* give in to those soulful, begging eyes — stick to plain white meat with all spices rinsed off, and safe veggies such as green beans or sweet potatoes.