If you are hosting a large Thanksgiving Day dinner, you will want to take a few precautions, especially since your home will probably be a little chaotic. One of the most common reasons for a trip to your veterinarian, post-Thanksgiving is because your cat or dog ate something they shouldn’t have and is now experiencing vomiting and diarrhea.

An over-indulgence in rich, fatty foods can even lead to a bout of pancreatitis! To keep your pet healthy this holiday weekend, take a few precautions:

• As tempting as it might be to give your cat or dog table scraps during a holiday dinner, avoid foods that are rich and high in fat content such as turkey skin, stuffing and gravy.
• Do not give your pet bones from your turkey carcass. These bones are known to splinter and can cause major health problems!
• Once you’ve carved your turkey, bag your carcass and take it out of the house immediately. Your pet will be tempted to investigate the wonderful smells coming from a container inside your home. Once outside, dispose of your turkey carcass in a pet-proof, garbage can with a tight-fitting lid.
• Don’t allow your pet to eat grapes, raisins, chocolate, onions or yeast dough.

If despite your best efforts, your pet DOES manage to get into something harmful, contact your veterinarian, or the closest emergency veterinary hospital right away. We will be closed on Thanksgiving day, but you can always call our switchboard at 317-257-5334 and follow the prompts to be connected to Circle City Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital. They will care for you and your pet until we open again at 7:00am on Friday!

Despite all the fun, we can’t let down our guard when it comes to our pets’ health. Halloween candy can pose a serious health risk to cats and dogs alike. Dr. David Lee, of Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center says, “If your pet gets into your Halloween candy, contact your veterinarian immediately.”

In most cases, accidental ingestion of candy causes an upset stomach and perhaps bouts of diarrhea. But there are a number of other things to keep in mind.

• Chocolate can be toxic if eaten by your pet. Depending on the amount consumed, your veterinarian may need to induce vomiting with activated charcoal, hospitalize and observe your pet while offering supportive care. Dark chocolate is MORE toxic than equal amounts of milk chocolate.
• Some types of candy, especially suckers and lollipops can be quite dangerous. Your dog may eat the stick (or handle) of the sucker, causing a foreign body obstruction. In these cases, x-rays are in order, with a possibility for surgery to remove the stick.

Chocolate contains caffeine, so your dog may be displaying the same symptoms you might expect of a person who has consumed too much caffeine. They may act jittery, have tremors, or even begin to have seizure activity. If you see any of these warning signs in your pet, contact your veterinarian immediately.

The Doctors and Staff at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center wish you and your pets a safe and Happy Halloween!