COMFORT & JOY

The most popular holiday for family gatherings is Thanksgiving. This celebration often involves decadent tables full of tasty treats and travel to your family or hosting visiting guests in your home.

· Sure, turkey in moderation is fine for most pets, but remember your pet essentially eats the same diet for every meal every day and may have an adverse reaction to new treats. If you want your pet to partake in the festive meal, please restrict access to a limited amount of lean protein if they can tolerate that. Avoid any skin or bones that can cause GI obstruction or pancreatitis. 

· Not every pet welcomes new people in their home, so if your pet struggles with this, talk to your vet in advance to discuss how to manage this. Their recommendations may include medication to be given, so you need some time to obtain the medication and make sure it has the intended effect on your pet. 

· If travel is in your plans, please ensure your pet is up to date on vaccines to facilitate intrastate or international travel. You may also need sedatives, so ask your vet well in advance. 

· Also, if your pet is on medication, make sure you have plenty for the duration of the trip. Finally, if travel does not include your pet, ensure you have a trusted pet sitter or daycare facility lined up. This is a busy time, and availability can be limited! 

Next up on the schedule is Christmas and Hannukah. Between wrapping paper, tinsel on the trees, and Holly plants, a decorated home is beautiful, but it can also be lethal to a pet.  

Yes, dogs love to chase crumpled wrapping paper. However, many of these papers (usually cheaper quality) contain chemicals that can harm your pet. You can still throw the crumpled-up ball of Christmas joy down the hall for your dog to chase, but make sure they do not ingest it. 

· Holly plants are lethal to dogs and children. Specifically, the berries on these beautiful, seasonal plants are toxic. If you want to have them decorate your home, please ensure they are out of reach of your dog, cat, or child. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy, but it is safest not to allow your pet access to these plants. Other toxic plants include Lilies and Poinsettia; Lily toxicity can be fatal to cats, and Poinsettia can cause mouth, stomach, and esophagus irritation, so again, please prevent access for your pets. 

· Tinsel is one of those decorations that have caused arguments across many families. Some love them for their simple shine and ability to accentuate a Christmas tree. Some hate them because they are messy, and when the family dog eats them, their poop is often lined with silver streaks. Tinsel is okay to use, like many things, in moderation. Just be mindful that if your dog does ingest tinsel, you must monitor the dog. If your dog has trouble passing tinsel, and you see some hanging out of their rectum as they poop, please do not pull the tinsel string out. You can damage your dog’s rectum and intestines. Usually, a dog can express these things with some effort (you will note that the dog may “rock back and forth” on its hind legs as it tries to ease the tinsel out). However, if your dog is distressed and this is the reason, then you need to contact your vet or an animal hospital ER. It is better to err on the side of caution here. 

· Remember that the same Thanksgiving rules apply here regarding treats, decadent foods, and more. The last thing anyone wants to do is have their furrever friend not feeling well during the holidays. It adds stress to an already stressful time and can also be heartbreaking to watch your pet being sick. Holiday time can be enriched by spending quality time with our pets, but please be mindful of these tips to make certain you’re enjoying family time and not spending that time at the animal hospital ER.