Thanksgiving With Your Pets!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your four-legged family members!   

Thanksgiving is a time for friends, family and holiday feasts, but let’s make sure it’s not a dangerous time for your pet. Thanksgiving centers around food, so here are a few tips to protect your pet and avoid a visit to the veterinarian.

Your Pet is Begging for Turkey:

If you decide to feed your pet a small bite of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well-cooked. Don't offer her raw or under cooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.  Be careful of the bones.  Do not give these to your pet because it can be problematic for their digestive tract.

Give Your Pet Their Special Treat:
While you are enjoying your meal, give your cat and dog a small treat of their own.  Offer them safe chew bones to keep them busy; but no rawhide. Rawhide can cause blockage and choking.  Do you have a toy that you can stuff some turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans).  This will keep your pet busy for a while so you can enjoy your dinner.

Say No to Alliums:

Nothing with alliums (i.e., onions, garlic, leeks, scallions) should be ingested by your pet. While it is true that small, well-cooked portions of these foods can be okay if your pet is used to it, ingesting these foods in large quantities can lead to toxic anemia.

The Garbage Can:

Be careful with your garbage can.  Does your pet know how to open the lid?  Your pet may smell all of that leftover food that you tossed in the trash bin.  A frustrated pet who can’t get a scrap out of his usually-generous parents may be tempted to dig around the trash bin and find a good number of the items that they should not be eating.

Holiday Plants:

It's not just food that you need to be careful with.  There are some plants that can be toxic to your pets such as Poinsettias, holly berries, mistletoe and Cedar Christmas trees.

A Small Amount of the Foods Below are Safe for Your Pet.

• Skinless and boneless cooked turkey
• Steamed, plain green beans
• Plain carrots
• Plain, mashed sweet potato or pumpkin
• Gravy that is free of onions, sweeteners, spices and herbs

Other Foods Not to Feed Your Pet:

• Turkey skin, drippings and gravy
• Turkey twine or bones
• Corn on the cob
• Alcohol
• Bread dough
• Fat trimmings and fatty food
• Chocolate or anything with Xylitol in it

Enjoy a happy, safe and fun Thanksgiving!!!  

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How I Taught My Dogs to Do The Treadmill

Teaching your dog how to use the treadmill can be fun for you and your dog.   When it gets to be too cold outside or raining, our dogs still need some exercise.  Or, if you have a dog with a lot of energy like my Dusty does,  it's a great way to work off some more of that energy!!  I've taught all my dogs to do the treadmill.

It does take patience and a lot of praise... treats, treats and more treats!!  Some dogs can be fearful of the treadmill.  Find a command for your dog to get on the treadmill.  I use 'go tread'.  And don't hesitate or act nervous or your dog will pick up on your nervousness.  

Below are the steps I used:  

1.  Clip a leash to your dog's collar.

2.  Get your dog on the treadmill -- give a treat and praise -- and have your dog simply stand on the treadmill -- give a treat or two!!!  

If your dog is nervous standing on the treadmill, don't start the treadmill until he/she is comfortable just standing on it.  This is where patience, treats, and praise is needed.

3.  Once your dog is comfortable standing on the treadmill, start the treadmill keeping it on the slowest speed.  Your goal here is to get your dog walking.  It's a strange feeling for them.  If you dog knows 'heel', start walking and say heel. Once you start moving, your dog should go with you...  and don't forget the treats and a lot of praise!!  :)  You can even hold a treat down by your dog's nose.

You both will be walking on the treadmill at the same time so your dog does need to be on your side so you don't step on his/her feet.  Take smaller steps if you need to.

4.  Slowly increase the speed as your dog gets comfortable.   When your dog will stay on without you on the treadmill, you want to go to the front of the treadmill where your dog can see you.  You'll still be holding the leash and praise your dog.

5.  Keep repeating until you are able to remove the leash.

Make this fun and your dog will have fun!!  Let me know if you try this with your dog!