KEEP PETS AWAY FROM THE THANKSGIVING TURKEY
Although Thanksgiving is a time for sharing, the Baring Boulevard Veterinary Hospital
urges you not to share your holiday meal leftovers with your pet. Table scraps, including
Thanksgiving turkey, are unhealthy for pets. Turkey bones or spoiled meat could be
especially dangerous to your pet's health.
"Turkey bones, like other bird bones, are hollow and therefore break easily and splinter into sharp pieces," says Dr. Burnett. "Most dogs will not chew the bone thoroughly and sharp pieces can cause blockage and perforate the intestinal tract."
A pet who has a turkey bone lodged in his digestive system may not show any symptoms for one to two days. When symptoms do occur they may include loss of appetite, depression, vomiting or diarrhea. Sometimes the bone will pass by itself; other times it may need to be surgically removed.
Another common ailment in pets who eat leftover turkey is salmonella food poisoning. Salmonella is an organism that lives in the turkey's intestinal tract. The cooking process usually destroys the organism, making the turkey safe to eat. Occasionally, the center of a turkey may be undercooked, especially if it's large or full of stuffing. If the meat sits out at room temperature for too long, the salmonella organisms can multiply and cause contamination. Pets may become poisoned if they eat any of the turkey that has been sitting out.
Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include gastrointestinal upset,
vomiting, diarrhea, depression, a high temperature, loss of appetite and listlessness.
Pets Should not be allowed to eat table scraps, even on Thanksgiving. If your pet sneaks
some turkey from the table and begins showing signs of the above symptoms, give us a call
(775-358-6880) immediately.
