Thanksgiving brings family, friends, and plenty of food to the table — but it can also create unexpected challenges for pets. From tempting treats to bustling gatherings, the holiday can be stressful, and even unsafe, for animals.
Dr. Lori Teller, a clinical professor at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, offers pet safety tips to help owners keep their animals relaxed, healthy and happy during celebrations from Thanksgiving through the New Year.
Calm pets, happy guests Whether you host a traditional Thanksgiving or a Friendsgiving, the holidays mean that your home may fill with faces that are unfamiliar to your pets. As such, when guests arrive, it’s important to remember to introduce pets to your visitors on the pet’s terms.
“Some animals are very eager to meet guests and will willingly approach them, but owners may need to help calm an overly excited dog to keep it from jumping on someone, especially if it’s a small kid or a frailer guest,” Teller explained. “On the other hand, pets that are more cautious around people they don’t know will need to be approached slowly.”
Owners can encourage new relationships by helping guests make positive first impressions.
“An owner can give the guests some treats to share with the pet as encouragement, but if a pet does not want to interact with someone, it should never be forced,” Teller said.
Pets that may not easily adjust to holiday crowds could exhibit various signs of stress.
“One of the biggest results of stress in a pet is trying to hide or leave the home, so beware of doors that are left open as people enter and exit,” Teller said. “Dogs may also show stress by trembling, licking their lips, yawning, or avoiding people and activities.”
If a pet is not feeling the holiday, it’s important to not overwhelm them with attention.
“There’s a chance that if guests persist in giving unwanted attention to pets, the dog may growl or bark, or the dog or cat may bite or scratch someone in an effort to remove a perceived threat,” Teller said.
Owners should also evaluate and address their pet’s stress level at multiple points during the festivities so that they may determine the best solution for soothing their anxious companion.
“Some pets may be happier with a special treat or new toy in a quieter part of the home where they can avoid the festivities; others may be happier staying elsewhere, such as a boarding facility or at a friend’s home,” Teller said. “If pets have mild stress during parties or social gatherings, owners can speak with their veterinarian about using a short-acting medication to alleviate the anxiety.”
Protecting pets from dangerous bites and chews With so many moving parts on Thanksgiving Day, distractions are inevitable. Preparing your home can help prevent accidents or unsafe snacking when your attention is on your guests.
These preparations can include ensuring that dangerous decorations and breakable items are kept out of your pet’s reach.
For example, festive plants such as lilies, chrysanthemums, and some varieties of ferns are toxic to cats and dogs. In addition, natural accents like pinecones, acorns, and flint or calico corn — which may become tempting chew toys for pets — can cause choking, gastrointestinal blockages, stomach irritation and internal injuries.
Owners may want their pets to join in on the Thanksgiving meal, but they should be careful to avoid common holiday staples that can make pets ill. These include foods containing onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, walnuts, chocolate, or xylitol — which is often found in baked desserts and sugarless goods — as well as anything that is rich, seasoned, or alcoholic.
“In general, it is a good idea to avoid giving table food to your pet,” Teller said. “If you feel you must share something, a couple bites of turkey with the skin removed and no gravy, some plain green beans, or a bite of bread can be fine.”
Turkey should also be thoroughly cooked to prevent salmonella poisoning. Fully cooked and boneless ham also is OK to feed your pet if the ham isn’t seasoned with additional sugars and doesn’t contain a lot of fat.
While it may be tempting to feed your dogs the leftover turkey or ham bones, those present their own potential perils — bones can become lodged in the throat and can be problematic to the digestive tract; a splintered bone may require surgery to remove.
Fatty foods can cause vomiting and diarrhea that can progress into something more serious — like dehydration or pancreatitis — requiring a hospital stay.
Additional important safety measures include keeping food away from the edges of tables and counters; storing trash containers where your pet can’t find them; and keeping plastic, strings, foil and bags used during cooking out of pets’ reach.
If your pet does get their nose into the wrong dish or decoration, they may exhibit signs of poisoning, including vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and behavioral changes.
If you suspect that your animal has consumed a harmful substance, seek veterinary care as soon as possible. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) animal poison control center hotline — 888-4264435 — is also available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Preparing pets ahead of time To ensure your furry companions don’t get left out of holiday fun, there are things you can do ahead of time that will benefit your pets and keep them calm during your gathering.
“Taking a long walk before guests arrive can be a great way to tire your dog and minimize stress for both of you,” Teller said. “If your cat likes to chase a laser pointer or other toys, you can do that before guests arrive as well.”
Familiarizing your pets with guests who may visit during the holidays before the big day can also help pets more easily adjust to the festivities.
“Having people visit your home on a regular basis, where your pet can be exposed to guests and get used to the sounds and smells that go along with entertaining, goes a long way to prepare your pet for a gathering,” Teller said.
With a little bit of preparation and attention, you and your pet can have a healthy, happy, and stress-free Thanksgiving surrounded by those you love.
Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed. tamu.edu/news/ pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to vmbseditor@ tamu.edu.
