Thanksgiving can be a fun time for both humans and their pets, but it can also pose dangers, some of which your patients’ owners may not be considering. Now is a good time to share tips for keeping pets safe during this festive holiday.
As the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaches, Pet Sitters International emphasized the importance of taking necessary precautions to keep pets safe.
“Simple holiday traditions, such as hosting a Thanksgiving feast for friends and family, can pose potential problems to pets if not monitored carefully,” advised Patti J. Moran, PSI President.
For this reason, the organization has offered helpful tips to help pet owners ensure the safety of their pets. Why not share the following with your patients’ humans?
Know which treats are “off-limits.”
Food is a culprit for some of the most common holiday pet emergencies, so know which foods are off-limits for your pets, and make it clear to any guests. Holiday treats—such as rich, fatty scraps; bones from pork and poultry; alcoholic beverages; chocolate; and other sweets and candies—can be harmful or toxic to pets. Some of these foods have been linked to pancreatitis in pets. Signs and symptoms of an inflamed pancreas include vomiting and abdominal pain, and severe pancreatitis requires emergency medical care and treatment. Other dangerous substances for pets include the sugar substitute xylitol, bread dough and onions. If a pet ingests any potentially harmful product, call a veterinarian or a local emergency animal hospital immediately.
Put holiday decorations out of pets’ reach.
Will you be decorating your home with cornucopias, pine cones, plants, lights or other festive décor this Thanksgiving? Or will you put up a Christmas tree or other holiday decorations following the Thanksgiving feast? Be sure to keep out of pets’ reach any decorations that could be harmful if chewed on or ingested.
Provide a safe space for pets.
For pets that are easily frightened or not used to being around a lot of people, Thanksgiving can be an especially stressful time. If guests will be at your home, make sure you have a room set aside where your pet can relax with favorite toys and will not be disturbed. It is also important to make sure your pet is wearing an identification tag with your name and current contact information, in case he or she slips out the door as guests come and go. You may also want to consider microchipping your pet.
Finally, make sure to share your practice’s emergency contact information in the event one of your patients suffers a medical emergency during the holidays.
To learn more about PSI, visit www.petsit.com