Keeping your dog safe at Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year. You get to spend quality time with family (four-legged included) and enjoy a delicious meal. Following a few simple guidelines will ensure your dog has a terrific Thanksgiving too.

  • Tasty turkey – If you give your dog a bite of the main dish, make sure it contains no bones and is well cooked. If not, the turkey could contain salmonella bacteria.
  • No bones about it – Don’t give dogs the leftover carcass. Bird bones are hollow and break easily. This means pieces of bone could get lodged in your dog’s digestive tract. Dispose of bones carefully so that your dog isn’t tempted to eat them.
  • Drunk doggies – Obviously don’t give your dog caffeine or alcohol, but did you know raw yeast bread is also a no-no? When a pet eats raw bread, the yeast continues to convert the sugars in the dough to carbon dioxide gas and alcohol. This results in bloated drunken pets, which is potentially life threatening.
  • Dangerous desserts – Dogs should not consume desserts containing raw eggs. Salmonella could lead to food poisoning. Pups should also avoid nutmeg and nuts- specifically walnuts and macadamia nuts.
  • Fido’s feast – Give your fur child their normal food with a little turkey and veggies, maybe sweet potatoes or green beans. You could even give them some food in a puzzle toy to last all through your meal. Puzzle toys also encourage dogs to eat slowly and avoid overindulging.
  • Travelin’ tails – If you’re away from home, make sure your pup is wearing their collar and tag with your current information. This is also a good time to make sure microchip info is up to date.
  • Good guests – Talk to your guests about your pet. If your dog likes to explore, make sure they know not to let him out the door. Also ask friends and family not to feed your pup table scraps. If there are children visiting, supervise your dog, especially if he isn’t used to little ones.
  • Get movin’– Just like humans, dogs need to exercise to work off a big meal. Enjoy the fall weather and take a nice long walk. It will be beneficial to more than just your pup.

We look forward to seeing your dog celebrating Thanksgiving in Austin, Portland, Seattle and beyond on Instagram and Facebook. Don’t forget to tag #BarkHappy to be featured on our page. Everyone at BarkHappy wishes you and your dog a safe and happy Thanksgiving!