Tis the season when the hustle and bustle of your day can leave your dog unattended and bored. Consider these holiday health and safety tips to keep your pooch healthy and happy all year long. This is part one of two articles on holiday health and safety tips.

Holiday Health Tip – DON’T Overindulge Your Dog

Holiday safety tips – don’t let your dog overeat.

You hear a crash! Turning the corner into the kitchen you spy Sadie, your German Shepherd, licking her lips as the last trace of a turkey bone slides between her tongue and teeth. Houston. We have a problem.

Okay, you didn’t plan on Sadie seizing the opportunity to consume large amounts of turkey, but she did. Not as extreme yet still harmful, is giving your dog unfamiliar foods during the holidays. Your dog won’t, umm, can’t say no. You have to say no for her, being careful not to set her up to overeat.

“A sudden switch from kibble or canned food to a plate full of turkey and stuffing can wreak havoc on your pet’s digestive system, potentially leading to pancreatitis and gastroenteritis,” reports Jennifer Reed with thedrakecenter.com.

Beyond just a tummy ache, consuming a large quantity of unfamiliar food can be very painful and even life-threatening to your dog. Some foods, including onions, garlic are also toxic to dogs.

DO Offer Your Dog Healthy Foods

Group of friends eating outdoor. The woman is feeding her dog healthy foods.

Your dog cannot handle rich, fatty foods like butter, heavy cream, and gravy the way her human family can. This doesn’t mean she has to be left out of the festivities entirely.

Sadie can enjoy small portions of plain turkey, cooked mashed potatoes, and plain vegetables like carrots or green beans (not green bean casserole) instead. As a reminder, be sure the turkey is well cooked, no pink, and don’t forget to remove the bones and skin before setting out her bowl for dinner.

Finish Up By Cleaning Up

Roasted turkey garnished with cranberries, table decorated with pumpkins, gourds, vegetables, pie, flowers, and candles. Remember holiday health and safety, clear the table

All good cooks know clearing the table finishes the meal. This happens to be the third, holiday safety tip for your dog. Don’t leave temptation out where your dog, or cat for that matter, can grab an un-witnessed taste. 

Your pet can become sick and you may not know the cause until it’s too late.

Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and other materials used in preparing, cooking, and serving the meal are hazardous to your pet as well. In this case, one of the best ways to ensure proper disposal is by placing all materials harboring the flavors of your meal in a plastic bag and tieing it shut. 

Place it in a closed container before you leave the kitchen. Safe and sound is how you want your pets to be found –this holiday health tip makes it so.

Do you have a keep the holiday safe protocol in place? Click here for part 2 on safety during the holidays.

Click here to read some happy ending stories about rescue dogs.

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