Thanksgiving Pet Safety Hacks
Does your dog get into the trash every time you turn around? Does your cat run out the door whenever a guest arrives? These typical pet behaviors can be difficult to stop when you have other distractions, such as the busy Thanksgiving hosting responsibilities. Veterinary emergency visits often increase around holidays, when pets are more likely to fly under the radar and get into something they shouldn’t. Our Santa Monica Pet Medical Center team knows how stressful the holidays can be, so we’re providing you with Thanksgiving day hacks to help you keep your pet safe.
#1: Microchip your pet
If your pet is prone to running outside every time the door opens, they are likely to get lost when Thanksgiving day guests arrive and leave. By having your pet microchipped, you greatly improve your chances of reuniting with them if they become lost, because the microchip can’t fall off, break, or become illegible as a collar and identification (ID) tag can. A pet identification microchip is a tiny device, about the size of a rice grain, that our veterinary team implants underneath your cat’s or dog’s skin. Using a special syringe and needle to embed the device, our Santa Monica Pet Medical Center team performs this quick and easy procedure during a routine outpatient visit.
When a microchipped pet gets lost and they aren’t wearing a collar with a tag, they are typically brought to an animal shelter, veterinary hospital, or police station. These facilities have microchip scanners that detect the unique number associated with your pet’s chip. After looking up the chip number in a standardized database and reaching out to the manufacturer, the people who have your pet can directly contact you.
#2: Block your pet’s access to exits
While a microchipped pet is usually easier to find, preventing your pet from getting loose is a far more effective strategy for keeping them safe. You help keep your pet safely indoors by blocking access to your home’s exit doors, especially during gatherings. Use a gate or a puppy pen that unfolds into an indoor fence to prevent your pet from running out of the house when a guest enters or leaves. This strategy also prevents exuberant canine greeters from overwhelming guests, especially children, as they enter your home. If your pet is overexcited, they may potentially cause a guest coming in the door to drop a dish or sustain a painful scratch.
#3: Establish a food-free pet zone
Thanksgiving foods are dangerous for pets because many ingredients are toxic, including chocolate, xylitol, raisins, garlic, onions, and macadamia nuts. In addition, if your pet gobbles down fatty foods or table scraps, they can experience painful pancreatitis. If your pet ingests bones or trash, they can experience an intestinal obstruction. Each of these problems is serious and typically requires emergency veterinary care, but you can prevent them completely by establishing a food-free pet zone during the holiday. Prevent your pet from accessing the kitchen, dining area, and anywhere guests may carry or set down a plate of food, so you won’t have to worry that your begging pet snags a treat or knocks a food-filled dish off the table.
#4: Keep trash bins away from your pet
An accessible trash can is a pet’s greatest treasure, but the bin contains both potentially harmful food and inedible items your furry pal may mistake for a tasty treat because their aroma is so enticing. Take the trash out immediately after clearing the table and disposing of leftover food. Doing so helps eliminate any possibility of your pet sneaking behind your back to eat something they shouldn’t.
#5: Plan ahead for Thanksgiving travel with your pet
If you will be traveling for Thanksgiving, plan ahead to secure accommodations for your pet if they won’t be joining you. Keep in mind that boarding facilities and pet sitters book up months before major holidays. Whether your pet will be traveling with you, or staying with a friend or at a boarding facility, you need to update their vaccinations and parasite control, and refill your furry pal’s medication before your departure. If you’re traveling with your pet across state lines or by air, our Santa Monica Pet Medical Center team will have to provide you with your pet’s health certificate dated within 10 days of your trip. To ensure vaccine booster effectiveness and your pet’s overall health status, schedule your veterinary visit for late summer or early fall and another visit for the health certificate a week before you leave on your Thanksgiving trek.
We know your pet’s health and safety are always your priority, but planning for a stressful holiday event can push your pet’s care to the back burner. Help prevent your pet from having a health emergency and look forward to an enjoyable holiday by following our Thanksgiving pet safety hacks. Learn more about caring for your pet during stressful times and schedule their routine wellness visit with our Santa Monica Pet Medical Center team.