While Thanksgiving is a fun, relaxing holiday to spend with family, it also presents many potential hazards to your pet’s safety and health. We want to go over some of the simple things you can do to keep your pet safe and away from emergency vet clinics. Before we go into the emergencies you may encounter, let us tell you a little bit about us!
Need an after hours veterinarian? Like people, pets may need immediate care for illness or injury. But what if your primary care vet is closed? What if you don’t need the added expense of an emergency hospital? UrgentVet is here. Think of us as urgent care for pets. We help your pet – and you – feel better in no time.
Did you know that more pets go missing during major holidays than any other days of the year? As guests and family members are coming and going at your home, be sure that everyone is aware that the doors and windows should stay closed!
- Be sure all your pets are microchipped and wearing identification collars. And, ensure your microchips are registered and up to date.
- Put pets that don’t like visitors or unfamiliar sights and sounds in a closed bedroom or basement, away from the holiday shenanigans, with a plug-in pheromone diffuser and calming music.
Now, let’s talk about food. “A little bite couldn’t be that harmless.” Think again. Even in small doses, a grape, raisin, or piece of onion or garlic can cause serious issues for your pet. We have a list of items that we hope you’ll keep far away from your pet!
- Unless your turkey is boneless, skinless, and cooked in nothing but water, avoid feeding it to your pets from the table. Turkey and turkey skin can cause pancreatitis in pets, which can be life-threatening.
- Potatoes are a healthy and nutritious vegetable for humans and pets alike. But, when mashed with butter, sour cream, cheese, onions, garlic, or gravy, they’re not a safe option for your pet (and you should probably enjoy in moderation, too). Similarly, most veggies that are healthy on their own (think green beans, carrots, and more) can be enjoyed without all the extra ingredients often found in their holiday casseroles.
- Stay away from grapes and raisins, which can cause kidney failure in dogs.
- Say “no” to artificial sweeteners, which can be toxic to pets.
- Chocolate and other desserts are for you and your human buddies only. But, you knew that already, didn’t you?
- Your pet should never consume alcohol. And, be aware of unexpected dishes that might contain it, like fruitcake.
On all major holidays, we’re open from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm to ensure your pet deserves the urgent care they need when they can’t wait to feel better. We have locations in Westchase, FL, Belmont, NC, and Fort Mill, SC. Contact us today!