A Golden Thanksgiving

Volume 10: Turkey Day Tips

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and our goldens love to celebrate with us! It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and overlook something important. We’ve compiled a list of dos and don’ts for your turkey day so your golden can enjoy the holiday safely!

• Give them turkey! It must be boneless and plain with no skin, but turkey is a great source of protein for our goldens. So feel free to spoil them with a bite of your delicious main dish! Potatoes are also an excellent source of fiber. Raw potatotes are toxic to dogs; however, when cooked, they are perfectly safe for your goldie. Just be sure they are served plain and of course ensure they are not allergic to them. Here is a link to a list of foods your dog can eat.

• Let your house guests know not to leave the front or back doors open for your dogs to escape. There’s nothing worse than realizing the door was left open during the hustle and bustle and your furbaby is gone. If they do happen to go missing, make sure their pet ID tag and microchip are up to date with your current contact information.

• If your dog is food or toy aggressive, watch them like a hawk and deal with any issues immediately. If they are food aggressive, do not let children near your dog when they eat food. Closely watch that little ones aren’t dropping food or hand feeding them. It may be best to avoid feeding your dog in the common areas of the house and just feed them in a separate room. If your dog is toy agressive, it would be best to remove all of their toys before your guests come over. Of course, if your dog is toy or food aggressive, let your guests know ahead of time so they are aware.

• Dog owners must be aware of all foods that are dangerous to their furry friend so they can avoid any life threatening injuries. Dispose of food waste properly where your dog cannot get ahold of them. Bones can easily obstruct your dogs airway or digestive tract and even perforate it. Ham, onions, and grapes are examples of poisonous foods for dogs. Here is a link to a list of foods our best friends cannot ingest.

• There are also certain plants that are toxic to your dogs. If your golden eats even a leaf of a toxic plant they can be poisoned. Poinsettias are toxic to dogs and should be placed in an area your dog cannot get to or even better, just avoid them altogether. Here is a link to a list of plants that are toxic to our furbabies.

• When in doubt, have the Pet Poison Control phone numbers handy.

  • Pet Poison Helpline: 1-855-764-7661

  • ASPCA Poison Control Hotline: 888-426-4435

  If your dog ingests something that you’re not sure is poisonous, give them a call. They will inform you if the substance is edible or toxic to dogs and if you have to rush them to the emergency vet. Also, have your local emergency vet contact information available just in case.