Keep Your Loved Ones – Including Your Pets – Safe This Thanksgiving!

Things may look different this year for Thanksgiving celebrations, but many people will still be enjoying a delicious meal with their loved ones. It’s important to remember that certain foods people enjoy this time of year can be dangerous for pets. The SPCA of Texas recommends these tips to make your pets’ Thanksgiving fun and safe: 

• Be careful when you’re eating and do not feed pets bones from any type of fowl. Bones from traditional Thanksgiving food such as cooked turkey, goose, chicken or duck are extremely dangerous because they can splinter and puncture internal organs or choke an animal. To be extra safe, keep a lid on trash containers.

• Protect your dog or cat from foods that are too high in fat for them, or chocolate that your dog or cat shouldn’t have. Other foods — such as onions, grapes, alcohol and coffee — can cause anything from a bad tummy ache to choking to poisoning.

• After eating all those delicious Thanksgiving meals, take regular walks with your pets to keep them (and you) happy and healthy.

• Thanksgiving can be a very busy time for many families so make your pets feel extra special by scheduling play dates with their favorite friends or take them to your local dog park so they can enjoy the cool, crisp weather.

• Whether from candles or from the fireplace, a fire can be a serious hazard to your pet. Keep candles up high and put a screen over the fireplace.

• For the benefit of your guests, remind them that you have a pet, especially if your pet is a “door dasher.” 

• Make sure your pets are spayed or neutered, and keep updated tags on your pets at all times. The SPCA of Texas also recommends having your pets microchipped to help them find their way home if they get lost. To make an appointment to have your pet spayed or neutered, or to get them up-to-date on vaccinations, please call the SPCA of Texas at 214-742-SPCA (7722) seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.