DAN'S PAPERS, November 14, 2008 Page 36 www.danshamptons.com
pet agree By Jenna Robbins Best Place for the Pooch on T-G? Not under the Table
Keep baby safe in her own pen, away from foil and other prep items that are very harmful. Garlic is poison to a hungry pup.
Photos by Susan Galardi
One of my favorite routines for teaching your dog to be socially graceful when company comes over is to set up dress rehearsals and not wait for Thanksgiving dinner. Unfortunately, most of us have not planned ahead for this upcoming holiday and my best advice is to be on the safe side by protecting the dog you love from the company you love, as well as from your own urges to share the holiday delights. Don’t take this warning lightly, as it’s a fact that holiday festivities are cut short by emergency visits to veterinary clinics. If your dog is not usually fed a variety of different foods, even plain turkey can cause vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain. Allow me to make my feelings about feeding human food to dogs clear. As long as you can positively provide a balanced, healthy diet for your dog, and have your vet’s blessing, then I see nothing wrong with feeding them human food. I think adding fresh cooked chicken, turkey and vegetables to their usual diet is a good idea, but it has to be done gradually and with knowledge of what is okay or not okay to feed them. Starting this practice at Thanksgiving, because we just want to make them happy and let them feel like part of the family, is NOT a good idea. Also, on the training side of this coin, if you are giving your dog a special food treat, put it in his food bowl and don’t hand it to him from the table. Food high in fat, like poultry skin, beef or pork fat, peanuts and chips, which are also high in sodium, can cause inflammation of the pancreas. Pancreatitis is potentially life threatening. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine. Both can be harmful to your dog. Rapid breathing and hyperactivity are signs of a bad reaction to chocolate. Along with the usual turkey, stuffing, sweet potato pie and all the bowls of chips and candies that look pretty and keep everyone munching while dinner is being prepared are no-nos for your dog. A spilled bowl or a relative, especially a child, with good intentions, can make your dog very ill.
And while we’re on the subject of sweet potato pie, my favorite, most of the side dishes are extremely unhealthy and some can cause fatality, if your dog should indulge. Not only do they contain large amounts of butter, oil, flavoring, salt and spices, some contain alcohol, onions, and garlic, just to name a few.
Even something as simple as stuffing probably contains raisins, which are extremely dangerous and life threatening to your dog. Turkey bones are off limits because they could lodge in their esophagus or cause an irritation in your dog’s stomach or intestines. You also have to think outside the Thanksgiving dinner box. It only takes a second for your dog to grab something like aluminum foil, plastic wrap or even the string used to tie the turkey off the counter or out of the garbage. This is what’s registering in your dog’s head, if it smells like a turkey, it must be turkey! Bottom line: secure your garbage, because all of those items will cause an intestinal obstruction. What do I think is the best way to handle Thanksgiving at your house? Well, if you’re expecting a considerable amount of company, especially children, I truly think the best thing to do is provide a comfortable contained area, whether it’s a crate, a room or gated area, with appropriate food, water, toys, maybe music or TV and a “Do Not Disturb” sign. Try to maintain his daily routine and pay as much attention to him as (continued on next page)
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