Claws & Paws Veterinary Hospital Provides Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Dog Owners

Pearland's Claws & Paws Veterinary Hospital, providing pets with the best possible care, is informing the community about Thanksgiving safety tips and dangers for dog owners.

The holidays are a wonderful time for family, friends, and yes, the four-footed family members. For loving pet owners, it is often too easy to want to share all the food and drink with the pets. However, one needs to resist this temptation. Fatty foods can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea or a life-threatening condition called pancreatitis.

Cooked poultry bones are dangerous and can lead to many dangerous problems. Eating bones can lead to bone fragments and splinters getting lodged in the dog's mouth, throat, esophagus or internal organs, leading to choking or punctures and peritonitis, which is a bacterial infection caused when the stomach or intestines are punctured. This condition can lead to shock and even death if untreated. Constipation due to bones lodged in the stomach or intestines is also possible, and pancreatitis from the fats or any meat that might still be on the bones is also a danger. Once a dog experiences pancreatitis he or she is more likely to develop it again.

Any or all of these normally require hospitalization, medications and treatment. Sometimes, signs will not show up for days after eating the bones. All of these possibilities, if not treated, can lead to the serious conditions listed above and possibly death. It is much better to just avoid the ingestion of the bones to begin with. If a dog is suspected to have eaten any bones, or one sees some of the signs associated with ingestion of a bone, call a veterinarian immediately.

Here are a couple of tips for the dogs on the big day: Stuff a kong toy with a treat and give it to the dog while the owners are eating the Thanksgiving meal. Walk or play with the dog prior to the meal; a dog is more likely to run out of energy after exercise during the feast than a dog that's been inside all day.

"If you suspect your dog may have ingested one of these foods or another harmful substance, call the ASPCA (Animal Poison Control Center) National Hotline: 888-426-4435," Claws & Paws Veterinary Hospital's Dorian D. Strickland said. "There is a $65.00 charge for this call, but it could save your pet's life. If you do call and they recommend a trip to emergency clinic, make sure and take your Poison Control case number with you so the emergency clinic can contact them if needed without incurring additional charges. If we are all aware of the dangers of holiday meals, especially Thanksgiving, then the holiday will be great for both humans and pets alike."

Claws & Paws' office is currently accepting new patients, and the staff is ready to take all calls. For more information about Claws & Paws Veterinary Hospital, call 281-997-1426, view the hospital on the Web at www.cpvh.com or visit 2556 E. Broadway in Pearland.

About Claws & Paws Veterinary Hospital

Claws & Paws Veterinary Hospital was founded in 1997 by Dr. Julie Wickel and has built a reputation as one of the finest veterinary hospitals in the area. Each day, Claws & Paws strives to provide the highest quality of medicine and service to all patients and owners. Each pet that exits its doors has been pampered and spoiled, as the vets fulfill their goal of courtesy and compassion with high-quality medicine.