We love Thanksgiving at the HorN Pets loft... the cooking, the food, and of course spending time with family and friends!!! Those friends often include our fur-babies, here are a few simple tips for keeping them safe during this really HAUTE Holiday!!!

by Bridie Cavanaugh for Helium

Thanksgiving dinner in the oven. The warm, delightful smells of roasting turkey, spicy stuffing and buttery mashed potatoes can tempt even the best behaved pet. It can be hard to resist those pleading brown eyes. We want to include our pets in the special holiday times and treats. However, Thanksgiving dinner can be a hazard to our pets.

The fat content of items such as turkey skin gravy and buttery mashed potatoes can cause pancreatitis. This painful, and potentially deadly, disease is an inflammation of the pancreas. Signs of the disease include lethargy, vomiting, yellow diarrhea, lack of appetite and a hunched over posture. If your pet exhibits any of these signs bring them to the veterinarian immediately.

Thanksgiving stuffing often contains sage. Sage contains essential oils and resins. It may cause your pet distress, stomach upset and potentially cause damage to their central nervous system.

Special care should be taken to keep turkey bones away from your pets. They may splinter and catch in throats or puncture intestines. Dogs are especially good at scouting out turkey bones in the trash. Therefore trash cans should be securely shut and kept in a room inaccessible by your pets.

Turkeys often arrive at your home with pop-up thermometers, wrapping, kitchen twine and plastic twists used to hold the feet together. These items are soaked in the turkey taste and will tempt your pet. Be sure they are carefully disposed of in a place your pet can not access.

Food items such as onions, grapes, raisins and certain nuts are also known pet hazards. Desserts which contain chocolate are poisonous to your pets.

Keep all food at a safe distance on the counters and tabletops. They should not be reachable by your pets. Remember larger dogs can reach pretty far across a counter and cats can easily jump onto a counter. Smaller dogs can use a chair to bring the possibility of food closer. Guests should be instructed on what, if anything, your pets are allowed to eat.

If you feel you must offer your pet a special holiday treat add a small amount of turkey meat (no skin) and some vegetables to their normal meal. Get them some pet friendly holiday treats... many commercial pet food companies now offer treats designed especially for the holidays. Merrick makes both a dog and cat Thanksgiving Dinner canned meal.

While the house is full of guests and excitement be sure to offer your pets a safe place to escape the crowd. Consider confining them to a safe room and requesting that guests do not enter.

The holidays should be a safe and happy time for all family members. Consider your pets' well being and don't give into temptation. But on the outside chance that one of your fur-babies does eat something that makes them sick remember the ASPCA poison control 24/7 HAUTE LINE (888) 426-4435!!!

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