Another year has flown by and the Thanksgiving holiday is just days away. When you have a pet, planning for the big day can become a bit more challenging. This is true whether you stay home to host or travel with your pet to visit loved ones. Unfortunately, the busyness of the holiday season means that it’s easier for your pet to become sick or injured. We hope the tips below will help you avoid a visit to an emergency clinic.
Holiday Travel Tips with Pets
You may need a current health certificate for your pet signed by a veterinarian at Chaska Valley Veterinary Clinic if you plan to take him out of state or out of the country. Please schedule an appointment as soon as possible to ensure you have the certificate before you leave.
If you’re traveling with your pet by plane, keep in mind that Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for the airlines. Be sure that you know the policies of the carrier you’re flying with well in advance and that you get to the airport in plenty of time for the airline to board your pet.
For a car, bus, or train trip, you should secure your pet in a carrier and seatbelt the entire duration if possible. This will make your pet feel most secure as well as ensure everyone else’s safety. Even though we’re long past the heat of summer, don’t leave your dog or cat in the car when you run errands. She may become anxious to the point of trying to escape or quickly become too cold. Be sure to pack all your pet’s regular belongings for the trip, including food, medication, toys, and blankets.
Don’t forget to check with your holiday host to make sure your pet is welcome. You don’t want to bring a cat to a home where someone is allergic or an active dog to a place with small children or elderly people whom he could accidentally knock down.
When Thanksgiving Dinner is at Your House
While you look forward to seeing friends and family you might not have seen in a while, your dog or cat doesn’t understand the context and will likely feel stressed. If you’re concerned about begging or aggressive behavior, place your pet in an area away from the kitchen or dining room until people have finished eating. Someone should also keep an eye on the front door as guests arrive to make sure your pet doesn’t run out to escape a stressful situation.
We encourage you not to share anything from your plate with your pet and to ask your guests to do the same. Several foods served on Thanksgiving could be toxic for your dog or cat, including;
- Artificial sweetener
- Chocolate
- Grapes
- Onions
- Raisins
- Turkey, small bones, and skin
- Yeast and bread dough
Symptoms of ingesting one or more of these foods include vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, shortness of breath, lethargy, and even seizures. Even if no one feeds your pet directly, she could find scraps on the floor or get into the garbage. That’s why keeping her in a secure place in another room is a good idea.
Emergency Contact Information
Chaska Valley Veterinary Clinic will be closed on Thursday, November 23 for Thanksgiving. If you experience an emergency with your pet, please call Animal Emergency Veterinary Service at 952-942-8272.
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