our advice: ASK DR. CATE
Vet Rap by
Dr. Ryan Cate
Including your Pets in
Thanksgiving Festivities
Question: Dr. Cate, Thanksgiving is right around
the corner and we like to include our pets in the
family festivities. What are some concerns you
have for pets during the holidays?
Answer: Thanksgiving is the time to show
thanks for everyone and everything in your life
and we know your pets are no exception this
season. Including your pets in the Thanksgiving
activities can be fun for both them and for you.
However, assure you are taking the necessary
measures to allow them to have a happy and
healthy holiday season.
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Traveling With Your Pets
If you plan on traveling over the holidays and
taking your animals with you, be prepared and
take a few precautions to ensure they come
home safely. Many animals have anxiety while
traveling in cars or on planes, these pets may
benefit from a medication prior to leaving their
home. If you believe your pet suffers from trav-
el-related anxiety, make an appointment with
your veterinarian to discuss the best options for
your specific pet. If you plan on taking your pet
to someone else’s home, keep a close eye on
them in the new surroundings and have a crate
or room where they can comfortably retreat to.
Additionally, identification tags and microchips
are a relatively inexpensive precaution that can
bring your pet home safely if they happen to
escape from the new surroundings.
Thanksgiving Dinner
Let’s be honest, we all know and love the
meaning behind Thanksgiving and spending it
with friends and family, but the food is often
what we look forward to most. However, while
people can usually cure the aftereffects of a
big Thanksgiving dinner with a nap and some
football, our pets are often not as lucky. Black
Friday for veterinarians tends to result in many
painful cases of pancreatitis or even gastroin-
testinal blockage. Rich, fatty, and heavy foods
such as cream, butter, or fatty meats can be very
difficult for small animal’s bodies to process. In
addition to these heavy foods, desserts can also
be very hazardous to pets. While most people
know the dangers of feeding their pets choco-
late, many are surprised to learn several other
foods are toxic to small animals. Other foods
pet owners should be sure to keep out of their
fur children’s reach are grapes, onions, raisins,
yeast dough, and foods or drinks containing the