Unleashed: Talking turkey on Thanksgiving treats

Arguably, no holiday is more food focused than Thanksgiving. While you’re whipping up family favorites, it’s important to realize that some common ingredients—even those that are considered healthy for humans—can be toxic to your pets. To promote a safe and happy holiday, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has a list of food to keep away from pets.

In addition, many other foods like turkey bones can cause gastric problems. So, any decision to provide your pet with food not specifically intended for animals should be discussed with your veterinarian or pet nutritionist.

For more information on foods that could be unsafe for pets, visit the ASPCA’s People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets page.

Foods That Are Dangerous To Pets

Alcoholic beverages
Apple seeds
Apricot pits
Avocados
Candy (particularly chocolate—which is toxic to dogs, cats, and ferrets—and any candy containing the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
Cherry pits
Chocolate
Coffee (grounds, beans, and chocolate-covered espresso beans)
Garlic
Grapes
Gum (can cause blockages and sugar free gums may contain the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
Hops (used in home beer brewing)
Macadamia nuts
Moldy foods
Mushroom plants
Mustard seeds
Onions and onion powder
Peach pits
Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
Raisins
Rhubarb leaves
Salt
Tea (because it contains caffeine)
Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
Walnuts
Xylitol (artificial sweetener that is toxic to pets)
Yeast dough

If your pet ingests any of these foods, call your veterinarian immediately. If your vet’s office is closed for Thanksgiving or any other reason, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Locally, several pet emergency rooms will provide 24-hour care during the holidays including LSU School of Veterinary Medicine (578-9900), Baton Rouge Pet Emergency Hospital (925-5566) and Sherwood South Animal Hospital Emergency and Critical Care Center (293-7747).

HSUS Recipe: Sweet Potato Jerky for Dogs
If you want to make a Thanksgiving treat for your pet, HSUS offers this one-ingredient recipe. This healthy, super simple treat will have your four-legged friends begging for more.

Ingredient:
Fresh, raw sweet potatoes, preferably large ones.

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 225 degrees. Scrub the sweet potatoes and make sure there is no mold on the skins. The number of potatoes you use depends on the amount of jerky strips you plan to make. Cut the sweet potatoes lengthwise into 1/2-to-2/3-inch strips. Place the strips on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake the sweet potato strips for 3 to 4 hours. For crunchier treats, bake them longer. (Don’t be afraid to test them yourself or your friends and family along the way.) Allow the strips to cool before storing them in an airtight container.

As with all jerky, monitor your pet and adjust the size of the pieces, so they do not present a choking hazard.

If you’d like to see another happy face around your house for the annual feast, all of these APAWS animals would be thankful for a new family.

Creature Feature

Hope is a beautiful girl who was found in the middle of Airline Highway after being hit by a car. She was trying to dodge traffic and bleeding. Luckily, an APAWS volunteer was on the scene. He jumped out of his car and picked her up. Although she was in a lot of pain, she just wrapped her paws around his neck while he carried her to his car and safety. He immediately took her to the emergency vet, who determined she needed surgery for a badly broken leg and injured pelvis. She has completely healed and is looking for her forever home.

Reba and her siblings were rescued by an APAWS volunteer. This beautiful tuxedo kitten is very sweet and would be an adorable addition to any family.

Taz is an adorable terrier mix puppy who loves to play and interact with people and other animals. He gets along wonderfully with anybody and everything. This little guy has lots of energy and bounces around on his long little legs. He is progressing well with his house training and is kennel trained. But, if there are people around, he would rather be out with the family.

Sweet Shania took care of two litters of kittens when she was just a kitten herself. (One of those kittens is Reba.) Now that those raising baby days are behind her, all this pretty patched grey tabby wants to do some well deserved attention. This easygoing girl does well with other pets and kids.

Tobi is a 2-year-old, male rat terrier who is full of life and energy. He was found running down the middle of the highway as a one-year-old, very hyper dog. But, he has since grown up and calm down tremendously. He now loves to run out of the dog door to romp and play in the yard and then come in to sit and watch TV.

When her former owners lost their home, they surrendered Chloe to APAWS. This silver tabby is a sweet girl. However, she seems to sense that she’s beautiful and can be a bit of a diva. Chloe would be a wonderful companion for someone who is home often or lives in a calm and quiet environment. She is best suited to being an only pet.

These pets have all been microchipped, vaccinated, spayed/neutered, heartworm and FeLeuk/FIV tested. Many other adoptable cats, kittens, puppies and dogs are available at the Animal Protection and Welfare Society. For more information, click here.