A Happy Thanksgiving for Your Pet

When you think of Thanksgiving, you probably conjure up images of your entire family getting together, enjoying an amazing meal, maybe settling down to watch some football on TV, and playing games in the yard. But what about your four-legged family member? If you own a dog or cat, you naturally want it to have as much fun as your human loved ones on this special day -- without risking its safety, security, and health. Let's explore the special considerations surrounding Thanksgiving and pets.

Thanksgiving Food and Drinks: Safe for Pets?

Don't feed your pet Thanksgiving goodies directly from the table. Human foods tend to have too much salt, fat, sugars, and preservatives to be healthy choices for dogs or cats. Many of these foods can cause acute illness or even death in sufficient amounts. Keep a sharp eye on your pet so that it doesn't go near:

• Chocolate.
• Garlic.
• Onions.
• Citrus fruits.
• Grapes.
• Raisins.
• Raw bread dough.
• Nuts.
• Any food sweetened with xylitol.
• Turkey or chicken on the bone, since the fragile bones can shatter and cause injury or choking.

The good news is that your pet can indeed enjoy certain seasonal foods if they're prepared correctly. You can give your dog or cat cooked turkey meat, for instance, as long as it's unseasoned and off the bone. Your dog or cat may also enjoy some unseasoned green beans and cooked pumpkin.

What your pet drinks at Thanksgiving is just as important as what it eats. Caffeine and alcohol are both toxic to dogs and cats, so keep these types of beverages away from your fur baby. Sugary drinks aren't healthy either. Pets are perfectly content with clean water.

Pet Socialization at Thanksgiving Gatherings

No matter how casual your Thanksgiving gathering, you want to put your best foot forward with your loved ones while also expecting them to behave and get along as best they can. The same rule should hold true for your pet. Your human guests won't appreciate a growling dog or biting cat, while an unsocialized animal won't know how to handle all the noise and energy of the event. That's why you need to think about how well your pet is socialized before the gathering so you can make the appropriate preparations.

Pets accustomed to hanging out with people may feel delighted to meet so many new friends. Others, however, may react with confusion, nervousness, or even aggression. If your pet doesn't do well around strangers or large groups, make a quiet area in a distant part of the home -- complete with favorite toys, food, and water -- that your pet can retreat to as a safe space. If your vet has diagnosed the animal with an anxiety disorder, you may even want to calm your pet with prescribed medication or book a stay in a reputable pet boarding facility.

Cats can prove even more anxious and skittish than dogs at Thanksgiving parties and feasts, since they tend to prefer peaceful, calm, quiet surroundings at all times. If your cat feels secure in its carrier, place the cat carrier in your pre-arranged safe space and close the door.

Thanksgiving Fun for Pets

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to watch the falling leaves, throw a football around, and generally enjoy a fun time outdoors.

If you've consumed too much turkey to run around outdoors, you and your guests may prefer to watch football on TV, play board games, or simply lounge around chatting. Your pet will probably appreciate this form of quiet time, roaming from person to person in search of treats or hugs. Just keep in mind that the same food rules that apply to Thanksgiving meals also apply to snacks (and, of course, alcoholic beverages). Consider putting out separate bowls of pet-friendly treats for your guests to hand out.

If your guests plan to bring pets of their own (assuming that the pets are all properly socialized, of course), you can host some pet-centric Thanksgiving fun and games. For instance, why not put down a fake football field and have your own Puppy Bowl? Going on a thanksgiving fun run with your dog is another good way to provide healthy exercise and help your pooch burn off some extra energy.

Pet-Friendly Thanksgiving Decorations

Do you normally decorate for Thanksgiving with a fancy centerpiece, seasonal plants, and festive wall hangings? Do you take Thanksgiving as your cue to start hanging Christmas decorations? If so, keep in mind that popular decorative plants such as azaleas, yew, lilies, and poinsettias can have toxic effects on pets. Instead, make a festive centerpiece with any of the pet-friendly fruits and vegetables noted above. Skip the real candles in favor of LED lights that won't pose a fire hazard.

Veterinary Considerations

While the suggestions and strategies noted here should work just fine for most cat and dog owners, each pet is a unique individual -- and many of them have their own particular medical needs to consider. You might do well to consult your family veterinarian before an upcoming holiday, especially a food-heavy one like Thanksgiving. Your vet might determine that obesity, diabetes, hypertension, an anxiety disorder, or some other health issue imposes some special limits on your pet's diet and activities. So make that appointment today -- and start looking forward to the fourth Thursday in November!