Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Whether your plans include a house full of guests anticipating a feast and a football marathon or an intimate gathering with a few friends or family members, remember to include your canine companion in the plans. Use these 6 simple tips to help you make your holiday gathering safe for your dog.
Give Your Dog A Place To Go
Create a safe spot for your dog. This can be a crate or a room where your dog can go if he is overwhelmed or just in the way. Monitor interactions between your guests and your pet. Don’t wait for an incident to occur. When you see that your dog is distressed, overly excited or can’t be properly be supervised, put him in his safe place so that he can relax.
Lock Up the Trash Can
There is nothing more enticing to a dog than a trash can full of goodies. Even the most well mannered dog can be tempted to raid the garbage when nobody’s looking. Make sure keep the trash can in a secure area and to take the trash out frequently.
Keep Your Dog Out Of The Kitchen
Ban your dog from the kitchen. Close doors or use baby gates to limit access to this unsafe area. Our pets don’t think about the dangers of hot ovens, stove tops, and steaming pots of delicious smelling food. Many dogs are expert counter-surfers. They can devour a turkey carcass or gobble down a chocolate cake from the counter in the blink of an eye. These rich, fatty foods, which can lead to pancreatitis, are often more accessible to dogs during the holiday season.
Is Your Dog Wearing Proper ID?
Check to see that the ID on your dog’s collar is current. It only takes a minute for your dog to slip out of the house unnoticed when guests are around. If your dog has been microchipped, confirm that the microchip number has been registered and the information on the microchip database is up to date. Make sure the batteries are fully charged if your dog wears a GPS unit on his collar.
Dog Proof The House
Take a quick look around the house to ensure that toxic plants, decorations, bowls of candy and alcoholic beverages are kept out of your dog’s reach.
Put Personal Items Where Your Dog Can’t Reach Them
Remind your guests that it is essential that their personal belongings are put away so that they are unavailable to your dog. Your guests might not appreciate the consequences of your dog ingesting a sock eater or opening the child proof cap on their blood pressure medication. Keeping personal belongings out of your dog’s reach may help you avoid a trip to the emergency vet.
Now that everything is done, sit back, relax, and enjoy your holiday gathering.
