How to Avoid Canine Health Hazards at Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving Day table and all of its treats can be tough on people, but it can really be rough on your dog.

Every year, many dogs in Yakima head to the vet after Thanksgiving -- typically suffering from digestive problems and canine pancreatitis -- because they've eaten things they really shouldn't.

How can you give your dog a Thanksgiving treat without taking a risk with its health?

Dr. Jan Bellows, veterinary consultant with Milk Bone Dog Biscuits, says that there are three main things you should keep in mind.

DOGGY HAZARD #1: LEFT OUT LEFTOVERS Many dogs get sick not from being fed directly but because they climb up on the table and eat huge quantities of food when humans aren't there.

 

DOGGY HAZARD #2: FOOD NO-NOS

Don't give your dog turkey skin, turkey or poultry bones, onions, grapes, raisins, fatty foods, or other holiday items that are harmful or toxic to dogs.

 

DOGGY HEALTH HAZARD #3: DENTAL DAMAGERS Avoid plastic bones, ice cubes, antlers, and bully sticks -- all of which can cause painful doggy tooth fractures.

 

 

So when your dog is begging for a treat under the Thanksgiving table, what can you safely give them instead?

Dr. Bellows recommends a treat specifically made for dogs like a brushing chew. Instead of the hazards of human holiday foods, brushing chews taste great to dogs, remove tartar build-up, improve smelly doggy breath, and keep dogs happily occupied during the Thanksgiving meal.