Thanksgiving is coming up soon! We are definitely thankful for our canine companions. Dogs offer us unconditional love and loyalty, comfort us in troubled times, and keep us smiling with their silly antics. You’ll want to take a few precautions to keep Fido happy, healthy, and out of trouble as Turkey Day approaches. A local Ellicott City, MD vet discusses Thanksgiving dog care below.
Preparing
Make sure your pooch puts his best paw forward! Give Fido a bath before the holiday, and clip his nails. It’s also a good idea to de-fur your home. Vacuum and dust thoroughly, change your air filters, and wash your pet’s bedding.
Food
Your furry buddy will definitely take note of those delicious seasonal dishes. There’s no reason Fido can’t have a special treat. Just stick to safe foods. Plain, cooked meat, fish, or poultry is fine, as long as you remove the skin, bones, and fat. Never let your pooch have anything that contains garlic, onions, scallions, or chives; chocolate; caffeine; avocado; pitted fruits; nuts; mushrooms; grapes, currants, or raisins; or xylitol. Meat on the bone is also dangerous, as are raw meat, dough, and yeast.
Playtime
Before your guests arrive, take your furry pal for a long walk, and then spend some time playing with him. Hopefully, this will burn off Fido’s excess energy, leaving him calmer and better behaved.
Decorations
Keep your pup in mind as you decorate. Fido has a tendency to chew things, so you’ll want to put anything that could be dangerous to him out of paw’s reach. This includes things like small or sharp objects, plants, plastic objects, garlands, lights, and candles. If you have a fireplace, make sure you have a grate in front of it.
Petiquette
Does your canine friend tend to greet people by jumping on them? This can actually be dangerous with larger dogs, as they can knock people over. You don’t want Fido knocking your aunt down! Start teaching your pooch better manners. If need be, you can keep Fido crated or in a guest room as people are coming and going. If you choose the latter, put a baby gate at the door. Your pup won’t feel lonely or isolated if he can still see and hear you.
Please contact us, your Ellicott City, MD vet clinic, for all your dog’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!
