Keep your Dog Safe on Thanksgiving!

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There's enough for people to worry about at Thanksgiving. "Oh no, not Aunt Edna's greasy gravy." "My brother's bragging is going to drive me to drink." "I can't believe I ate the whole thing." But we can't just think of ourselves over this food-focused holiday: We have to look after our best friends, too.

Dogs enjoy the revelry at least as much as humans, with bits of this and that dropping on the floor, and delectable smells wafting around the house. But Thanksgiving mustn't be a free-for-all. Just because we try to pack away all we can doesn't mean our dogs should. And there are certain items your dog really needs to avoid.

"Veterinarians experience an increased number of office calls due to digestive problems after the holidays because humans invite their animals to celebrate with high fat meals (ham, gravy, turkey skin), chocolates, bones, etc.," warns Casandria Smith, L.A. Animal Services Chief Veterinarian, in a PetFinder article.

Here are some tips that will help your dog get through Thanksgiving safely and with a smile on her snout.

Stuff Your Turkey, Not Your Dog
It's easy to want to give your dog a big fat bowl of turkey, mashed potatoes, and whatever else you think she might enjoy. But that's a bad idea. Overindulging in fatty foods can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea, or a life-threatening condition called pancreatitis. A few strips of turkey on a dog's normal food is fine, but don't overdo it, no matter how she may plead with her "I'm STARVING" eyes. Keep in mind that turkey skin can wreak havoc with a dog's digestive system, so make sure she gets skinless, boneless turkey.

Stuff Your Dog's Kong, Not Your Dog
Here's a great way to keep your dog busy and happy during your meal. Put a bit of your dog's regular food in a Kong, and then stuff a little boneless turkey, sweet potatoes, gravy - just a tad, mind you - in the Kong. It's not much food, but it will keep him occupied for a long time.

Get Her Pooped
A dog who has been on a big walk or fetched the ball a zillion times will be much more likely to run out of energy during the feast than a dog who's been inside all day. A tired dog is a good dog on Thanksgiving. Make sure your pup gets plenty of exercise before the festivities begin.

Make no Bones About It
Cooked turkey bones can be a danger to your dog. They're sharp, and potentially very dangerous. You may not know a dog has a turkey bone lodged in your dog's digestive system for days. Don't leave plates with bones lying around. Ditto for the turkey carcass. Hungry dogs have been known to run off with the remains of a carved turkey. It can happen in the blink of an eye. You notice the turkey is gone. You notice the dog is gone. With luck, you find their hiding place before anything happens. Put plates in an unreachable area if you can't dispose of everything properly right away.

Know this Sage Wisdom
Sage and some other herbs have essential oils that can cause tummy upset and central nervous system depression if a dog eats them in large quantities. Most dogs aren't going to nosh on a fistful of sage, but keep herbs out of reach just in case.

Don't Cry Over Onions
Onions are toxic to dogs. They can lead to a dangerous form of anemia that may not be detected for days. Make sure your dog stays away from the pearly whites, and yellows, and reds.

Don't Give Her the Raw Deal
Unless your dog is already on a raw diet, we wouldn't recommend plopping a piece of raw turkey in her bowl (the change from her regular food might cause an upset stomach). But more importantly, keep your pup away from the uncooked dough for bread or rolls. What helps make dough rise? Heat. If a dog eats raw dough, what's it like for the dough in the dog's stomach? Warm. The dough rises in the dog's stomach, and if the dog has eaten enough, the swollen dough can cause pain, vomiting, and bloating -- conditions that can send you to the doggy ER on Thanksgiving.

Avoid Yappy Hour
Some dogs seem to enjoy alcoholic drinks. Walk away from your drink that's set on the coffee table, and Lulu may get lit. Dogs and booze are a bad mix. Your dog may not do anything embarrassing she'll regret in the morning, but she could become disoriented and quite ill. Too much alcohol can even lead to a coma, and death. Watch where you - and others - put their drinks, especially if you have a curious pup.

By following a few basic tips, your dog will enjoy a fun, safe Thanksgiving. Now if only you could avoid Aunt Edna's gravy...

Grateful

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreicate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye.

I recently attended a meeting at our church called "Focus on the Positive" and the topic we discussed was "Thank God." I ran across the above quote and it made me stop to think about the age old saying that "everything happens for a reason." I try to be a positive person as much as I can. When I get stopped at a red light when I had hoped to make it through, I pause and think that I am stuck at this red light because this is where God wants me to be right now. Maybe He is keeping me from harm by stopping me here. But, I am human, and I can get wrapped up in negativity from time to time. I try not to, but sometimes when I hear bad news or see something sad happen, I let it get to me and wonder why something bad would happen.

Just in the past 2 weeks there has been sad news in our area. A young woman, 33, was killed while driving when a truck driver accidentally ran a red light on 394. Another young woman, 25, was killed while being playful and joking with her friends at a fancy Halloween party downtown. A bank was robbed just a few towns away from us. We still have no suspect in custody from a murder that happened 1 mile from my house. The loss of life is something I have not personally dealt with often in my life.

There are other losses as well. One of my relatives had a brain tumor removed last week and has lost her ability to hear permanently. I have prayed for her over and over and wondered how it must have felt going into surgery, talking with her husband of several decades and knowing she will never again hear his voice. I can't imagine how that must feel. I have read about other "tragedies" where a family recently lost their entire home and everything in it in a fire. When I think about these things, my heart and prayers go out to these people. But, it also reminds me how precious life is and that we need to be grateful for every moment we have.

There are so many things that are taken for granted. I can hear. I can see. I am able to walk and run. I can drive myself anywhere I want to go. I have a job and while I seem to forever complain about paying taxes, I need to remember to be grateful that I have the ability to pay those taxes. I have a family - a very large family and while I occassionally feel worn out from running around and visiting and helping whenever I can, I need to remember to be grateful that we are surrounded by so much love and history in each other.

For years I complained about not being able to find a church closer to home to attend. We have gone back to our home parrish in Calumet City and while it is a 30 minute drive, it is also comforting to know that we are welcome there and that people enjoy spending time with us there.

I am learning more and more just how blessed I am. The picture at the top of this post is what I am most grateful for - my immediate family. I have a husband who loves and adores me and a daughter who is the best thing that has ever happened to us. He provides for us and takes care of us and loves us more than anyone else can. She smiles unconditionally and is in awe of the world around her. And as I watch her play and explore, I realize that I am also in awe of the world as God created it and I feel very lucky that I am here today to be a part of it. God is good and He has give us so much in ourselves, in our surroundings and in each other. Thank You God.

Happy Halloween From the Smiths

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