PALO PINTO COUNTY—Not all bones, whether cooked or uncooked, are good for dogs – especially bones from turkey, chicken and other fowl. Those types can cause choking, indigestion, or obstructions in their digestive system, or worse – splinter and perforate the dog’s organs.
As difficult as it is for some to ignore those sweet pleading eyes of a pooch while a Thanksgiving meal is being prepared or served – don’t give in to them. Giving in to their wants of nibbles may be unhealthy and counter-surfers can be sneaky and grab things they shouldn’t have. So be wary.
However, you can include your dog in the festivities with a Thanksgiving dinner – just not the same as yours. Instead, give them a plate with small amounts of boneless white turkey meat, unseasoned potatoes and vegetables – but no onions or stuffing/dressing.
For those dog lovers who want to give them dessert too, a small amount of unseasoned pumpkin is good for them – but not that spiced pie filling.
Also, do not give them chocolate, things that have a lot of sugar, or anything that contains the artificial sweetener Xylitol. The sugar substitute can be deadly for your dog.
Afterward, it might be tempting to scrape leftovers into your dog’s food dish – don’t. That also pertains to adding dark meat, the skin of the turkey or chicken, or rich gravy to their kibble. Too much fat can cause stomach pain and digestive issues – possibly serious pancreatitis.
Remember to emphasize to your family members and guests, including children, the dangers of giving your dog unsafe food.
If children are present in the household over the holidays, it is wise to ask a specific person to keep an eye on them – especially since kids tend to run in and out of the house playing. You don’t want to spend your afternoon worried, walking or driving around looking for your pet that escaped because someone left the door open – or got out of the yard because it was frightened by all the commotion.
It is also important that guests who bring their dog make sure it is wearing a collar with contact information. If possible, have them include your contact number if they are from out of town. Too many dogs manage to get out and become lost when visiting this time of year.
In addition, children playing with your furry friend need watching so they don’t do anything that will possibly hurt the pet, make the dog snap at them, or worse.
And, speaking of snapping – arguments have erupted between family members and friends because of so many opinions in one place. From family matters to football to politics – raised voices may put your dog in a protective mode, believing you are being threatened.
If that occurs, it’s wise to put your dog in another room or his kennel where he is away from the ruckus and will feel safe. That way, you can partake in the “discussions” or scream and cheer without worry, and your dog will be relieved from the noise.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Vi Hummel Shaffer is a 31-year veteran K9 handler and instructor in search and rescue and recovery, specializing in K9 forensic human remains detection. She is the author of the internationally acclaimed book “K9 Teams: Beyond the Basics of Search and Rescue and Recovery.”
