The holiday season is a time to reflect on everything we’re grateful for, including traditional immaterial blessings (e.g., health, happiness, and togetherness) and more tangible goods, such as food and shelter, and the video messaging that allows your more insufferable family and friends to celebrate remotely.

If your pet could speak, what would their thankful list include? You, of course, Caldwell Animal Hospital—we hope—and perhaps a taste of turkey. Certainly, they would include how you consider and plan for their needs amid the holiday chaos. More precisely, here are five things your pet is thankful for this Thanksgiving.

#1: Your pet is thankful that you know what to do during an emergency

No one wants to add disaster planning to their holiday to-do list, but knowing how to respond in a pet emergency can ensure you remember the Thanksgiving celebration for its turkey—not its tragedy. 

We recommend the following steps to ensure you know what to do if your pet cooks up trouble on Thanksgiving:

  • Create or purchase a pet first aid kit — First aid kits do not replace veterinary attention, but they can help you care for your pet’s minor injuries until professional services are available. Check out the American Veterinary Medical Association’s supply list or purchase a ready-made kit. 
  • Learn how to save a choking pet — Choking pets require immediate intervention. Familiarize yourself with the Heimlich maneuver for pets and never offer your pet choking hazards such as meat bones or corn cobs.
  • Learn pet CPR basics — Should your pet stop breathing or become unresponsive, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) could save their life by stimulating circulation and returning their regular heart rhythm. 
  • Post emergency phone numbers on your fridge or in your phone — The list should include Caldwell Animal Hospital, the nearest veterinary emergency facility, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Posting these numbers in a common area ensures every family member and house guest knows whom to call in a pet-related emergency.  

#2: Your pet is thankful that you keep harmful items out of reach

OK, your mischievous pet likely would enjoy a good “dumpster dive” into your post-holiday trash can or a counter-surfing ride that catches a wave of turkey trimmings. However, if they knew the long-lasting effects, they would certainly appreciate your strategic safety measures.

Sadly, harmful items are everywhere before, during, and after the Thanksgiving meal. Specific hazards include:

  • Toxic ingredients — Thanksgiving menus contain many ingredients that are harmful to pets.
  • Sharp utensils — A curious pet may swipe carving knives, peelers, serving forks, and skewers off the counter with their paw and be impaled or injured.
  • Trash cans — Meat trimmings, grease, bones, corn cobs, and food wrappers can lead to painful pancreatitis, intestinal obstructions, and other veterinary emergencies that require hospitalization or surgery.
  • Hot liquids — Boiling water, pan grease, and water baths can seriously burn pets.
  • Sterno cans — Canned heating fuel contains methyl alcohol, and consumption can lead to alcohol poisoning. Also, the lighted fuel can burn your pet.

#3: Your pet is thankful for pet-safe holiday foods

Many traditional Thanksgiving dishes feature ingredients toxic to pets, while excessive amounts of any abnormal food can result in unpleasant conditions, such as gastritis (i.e., vomiting and diarrhea) or pancreatitis (i.e., a serious, painful, and sometimes fatal condition that requires hospitalization). 

For the greatest pet protection, stick to your pet’s normal diet during the holidays, avoid introducing new foods, and keep the following ingredients, either alone or in side dishes, out of reach:

  • Meat trimmings (i.e., turkey skin, fat, grease)
  • Onions and chives
  • Garlic
  • Raisins, dates, and currants
  • Grapes
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Chocolate
  • Yeast dough
  • Xylitol (i.e., a sugar substitute often found in sugar-free and keto-friendly recipes)

If you want to spoil your pet with a Thanksgiving plate, you can safely offer these ingredients in small portions:

  • Skinless and boneless unseasoned white turkey meat
  • Plain cooked sweet potatoes
  • Green beans
  • Apples
  • Baby carrots
  • Pure canned or fresh pumpkin (i.e., not pumpkin pie filling)

#4: Your pet is thankful for their private sanctuary

The holidays can be a bit much—for us and our pets. Give your dog or cat a safe escape from the festivities by setting up a cozy area in a quiet room away from the commotion. If your pet is anxious around strangers or loud noises, contact Caldwell Animal Hospital to see if anti-anxiety medication or calming supplements could help reduce their stress, and consider confinement in their safe space during the busiest times of your holiday gatherings. 

Include your pet’s favorite items (e.g., cozy bed, familiar toys, water, litter box, and a television or radio to provide white noise) in their space. Also, consider a pet pheromone diffuser, such as Feliway or Adaptil, to create a sense of calm and peace.

#5: Your pet is thankful for their daily routine 

Dogs and cats find comfort in predictability and routine, so whenever possible, stick to your pet’s daily schedule during the holidays. Consistent sleep, wake, meal, and exercise times can relieve stress, improve mood, prevent anxiety-induced misbehavior, and help your pet feel more at home, despite the seemingly endless and unpredictable holiday excitement.

This Thanksgiving holiday, the Caldwell Animal Hospital team is thankful for your support and trust. From the exam table to the holiday dinner table, our compassionate team is ready to care for your beloved pet—contact us for additional assistance or to discuss anti-anxiety treatment options for your pet.