Thanksgiving is a special holiday that brings together family and friends! This usually means a lot of travel, parties, and food usually! However, this year is different with COVID-19. We are creating a special safety tip update for 2020 that you should consider to have a socially safe distanced celebration in your own home. Holiday food needs to be kept away from pets and ensure they plan a COVID safe and pet friendly party to keep them safe!
Here are few tips to keep your pets healthy and safe during holiday.
Food Safety
- Order a special handmade treat (like the one show in picture) for your dog from Puddles Barkery and have it delivered at Renton Veterinary Hospital. We get no financial incentive but you help a local small business and your dog will appreciate a special treat!
- Keep the feast on the table not where your pet can get to it.
- No booze!
- Don’t forget to check your food label for Xylitol! Xylitol is a common additive found in low-calorie foods, and is deadly to dogs. Cats appear to tolerate xylitol, but why take chance!
- No pie or other desserts either. Many of them have chocolate which can be harmful for them!
- Yeast dough can painful gas and potentially dangerous bloating for your pet. Keep them away from it!/span>
- Keep scrapes and trash out of reach as well so your pet can’t find it.
- Some festive and flower plants can be toxic for pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers lists of plants that are toxic to both dogs and cats.
- Hope for the best but plan for the worst. Know that quick action can save your pet’s life. Keep ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Hotline: 888-426-4435 handy.
Travel guidance
Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year. you should consider making other plans, such as hosting a virtual gathering or delaying your travel. It’s important to talk with the people you live with and your family and friends about the risks of traveling for Thanksgiving. Given we love our pet parents, here are few suggestion to consider these other activities instead:
- Host a virtual Thanksgiving meal with friends and family who don’t live with you
- Watch television, watch movies, Thanksgiving parades, or your favorite sports or play games with people in your household
- Shop online for holidays ahead or for black Friday deals in a socially safe way
- Make food and deliver in no contact way
- Write Thank you notes, send digital copies for now but save them for delivery later
Party Advice
Celebrating virtually or with the people you live with is the safest choice this Thanksgiving. If you still choose to having guests at your home, be sure that people follow the steps that everyone can take to make Thanksgiving safer. These steps include limit number of guests, maintain distance, wear masks for most time, eat outdoor, only use single use utensils, have everyone bring their own food instead of food prep to limit contact. If you have to leave doors and windows open for fresh air or otherwise, please see our suggestions below:
- Make sure your pet is Microchipped, so they can be reunited with you if they escape.
- Pets can be shy or get excited around new people and or due to high noise in parties. You may want to consider keeping them in a place away from noise, in a separate room, their carrier etc. to help reduce noise and emotional stress!
- Keep a close eye on them! They may escape as your visitors are entering or leaving your home.