Thanksgiving is one of the most joyous holidays, but it may not be so for pets as leftover food can cause them to get sick and sometimes die.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), a humane organization that protects the welfare of pets primarily cats and dogs, has issued some guidelines to make the holiday memorable not only for humans but also for fur babies.
In a CBS Local report, many pet owners have admitted to giving Thanksgiving leftover food to pets sometimes as a form of a treat. However, the ASPCA warned that pets may only develop adverse side effects.
For example, chocolates are a no-no for both dogs and cats because of the main ingredients, namely theobromine and caffeine, which can cause poisoning.
Although media has portrayed dogs to be great lovers of bones, ASPCA mentioned that they may not be an ideal part of your pooch's diet. Bones especially those from turkey are prone to breakage, and they can shatter into smaller pieces once chewed. The shards then may damage the internal organs of your pet, causing massive bleeding and, worse, death.
Ham may also contain small pieces of bones that can lead to choking while the high level of salt and fat may contribute to an upset stomach and some vomiting. Adding some fat trimming on the pet food wouldn't do any good either.
The ASPCA further recommends that pet owners should be careful once they're dining. The presence of other guests may diver their attention to what their pets are doing, including what they're eating. For instance, certain food scraps may end up on the floor and eaten by dogs and cats.
It is also helpful if garbage bins are covered properly. Cats are known scavengers, and dogs have a strong sense of smell that allows them to correctly detect locations of certain types of food.
Here are other tips from ASPCA.