Turkey Day – what a happy day for dogs! NOT! We always think our dogs should enjoy the same Turkey Day trimmings as we do. However, be a responsible pet owner. Many things that go into Turkey Day trimmings are either digestively upsetting or can cause pancreatitis or can be just plain lethal to your pet. Those items used to wrap and store Turkey Day goodies can also cause intestinal blockage such as aluminum foil, string from the legs of the turkey or duck or goose, wax paper packages the giblets come in, plastic tops and bottoms of containers, bags for roasting and even those pop-up timers can be ingested and cause your dog some heartache and tummy ache. If the intestinal blockage goes unnoticed, it can be lethal to your pet.

Now, let’s discuss those Turkey Day goodies and what can be potentially lethal to your pet. First, never, and I stress NEVER, give your dog chocolate – it is extremely toxic to their systems; they cannot break down chocolate and it ultimately will cause your beloved canine to perish. Please also make sure that your children and your friends’ children understand the severity of the problem in giving the family pet or a visiting family’s pet some chocolate or brownies or chocolate chip cookies. Dogs will eat anything that gets put in front of them or is made accessible to them, through whatever means. Make sure your trash is in a container with a lid and is placed in the pantry with a closed door. The repair bill to fix the door from the scratches of your dog’s paws trying to get in is much less and less of a heartache than the repair bill to fix your canine should something toxic be ingested due to your irresponsibility.

Bones are also taboo for your pet. Bones from chickens, turkeys, goose, duck and some beef bones are not hard bones and when your pet gets a hold of them, they will indeed splinter, and get caught in a variety of places like the gums, between teeth, in the esophagus, tongue, stomach and intestines. These splinters can wreak havoc in your dog’s system and cause infection and expensive surgery to remove.

This Examiner suggests that you ask your veterinarian about animal CPR classes. The Red Cross will also have an idea of where you can obtain certification for pet CPR. It is a valuable asset to have and also it would be suggested by this Examiner to get CPR for children and adults as well. All sorts of things can and do happen during the holidays. We all get very excited and things happen. Most time death occurs when those standing around are helpless. Learning these valuable rescue techniques and brushing up on them by reading the latest in CPR techniques for the whole family, including the family pet, will indeed give you a greater safety net during holidays, trips camping or hiking, fishing or traveling.

Now, let’s get to the really lethal ingredients. Onions are extremely toxic to dogs and can cause the destruction of precious red blood cells. Other items that can cause liver damage are: mushrooms, iron supplements and Xylitol (the ingredient in most candies, gum and chewable vitamins).

Those items that can cause heart and nervous system problems and possibly lead to death are: the leaves and stems of tomatoes, rhubarb and potatoes. Any green potatoes will potentially be harmful as well as macadamia nuts, too many fatty foods, caffeine in the form of coffee and tea (and don’t forget chocolate – it has caffeine in it as well); avocados and alcohol can damage the heart and lungs as well.

Those items that can lead to kidney damage are raisins and grapes. Folks, this is not a complete list of items that should not be ingested by your canines, but it is a start. Just imagine your uncomfortable feeling when you get heartburn; YOU can tell someone about it; most canines cannot; they become lethargic and do not want to move because the bloating causes extreme pain when they do. So, just think how bad your pet may feel, for hours possibly, and not having the wherewithal to let somebody know how miserable he or she is feeling. It’s always safer to NOT have those items available and around your pet. It’s hard to be a responsible pet owner, but it starts in the home, folks. Train your pets not to beg for food at the table or the counter or by the stove or by the trash can. It can be done and positive reinforcement is the key. My basset hound is tough to train but with love and positive reinforcement, he now knows that those are places he just doesn’t go.

Be safe around your pets this holiday season and have a wonderful Thanksgiving from our house to yours. Always be aware of where your pet is at and if you cannot be sure that your pet will not imbibe in the tasty treats laid out for your guests, then put your pet in a crate or in a room with the TV on so your canine will at least have its attention diverted from the one and only thought of FOOD – GLORIOUS FOOD.

Check with your veterinarians and your local Red Cross – get on the internet and check out canine food recipes that can be made from some human food. Find out what your pet can and cannot have and be responsible. Who knows, you may develop a great recipe for a phenomenal dog treat or kibble or even a great doggie gravy!

Again, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and there will be more articles to come. A series on fecal matter has kept this Examiner quite busy and hopes to publish several articles in the series will occur very shortly.