The winter holidays can be fun for the whole family, but let’s make sure it’s not a dangerous time for your pet. Thanksgiving centers around food, so here are a few Thanksgiving safety tips to protect your pet and avoid a visit to the veterinarian.

 Cut the fat:

Fatty or rich foods like beef fat, poultry skin and gravy can cause severe gastrointestinal issues in pets, including:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Excessive gas
• Serious diseases like pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a severe inflammation of the pancreas, an organ that produces digestive enzymes. On the mild side, pancreatitis can cause vomiting and a decrease in appetite, but can potentially be fatal.

If you want to treat your pet, it’s best to stick to a pet treat or a couple of small bites of lean poultry or unsalted/unbuttered vegetables.

Bones are bad:

Although bones from our holiday birds look good to pets, they are dangerous and can cause intestinal upset and may even splinter once digested.

Watch the packaging:

Make sure you dispose of any turkey or other food packaging quickly and appropriately.

All strings, plastic holders and bags that have a meat smell to them can be very attractive to a pet. Once ingested, these items can cause damage or blockage of the intestines.

Chocolate is particularly toxic:

Consider all the cookie and desserts offered during the holidays, many of which contain chocolate.

Chocolate is dangerous for dogs in particular because it contains theobromine, a caffeine-like ingredient that can be toxic to your pet. Dogs are not able to metabolize theobromine as quickly as humans. Complications include:

• Digestive issues
• Dehydration
• Excitability
• Slow heart rate

Later stages of theobromine poisoning include epileptic-like seizures and death. Keep your pet away from dark, semi-sweet and baker’s chocolate because they contain higher levels of theobromine.

Source:  Banfield

Spectra Canine Vaccines are available at J&N Feed and Seed. We offer a complete line of multi-protection, combination vaccines that provide protection for the major health risks of dogs, in a convenient, single dose packet.  Pet owners, breeders and shelters can now easily do their own shots for giant savings.

Canine Spectra 10 – Spectra 10 vaccine is a combination of immunogenic, attenuated strains of Canine Distemper, Canine Adenovirus Type 2 (CAV-2), Canine Parainfluenza, and Canine Parvovirus Type 2b, propagated in cell line tissue cultures.

Canine Spectra 9 – Canine Spectra 9 Single syringe is the annual booster vaccine that offers better protection for less! Spectra 9 is a convenient, ready-to-use syringe that offers 9-way protection against canine distemper, hepatitis, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and 4 kinds of Leptospira.

Canine Spectra 6 – Canine Spectra 6 is a ready-to-use syringe that prevents canine distemper, hepatitis, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and corona virus.

Canine Spectra 5 – Canine Spectra 5 is a convenient, ready-to-use syringe that provides 5-way protection against canine distemper, hepatitis, adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza.

Stop by J&N Feed and Seed for all your pet feeds and supplies.