Just in time for Thanksgiving and the weeks of feasting to follow, here are a few seasonal helpers for pet owners.
LET'S TALK TURKEY
Whether you intend to share your Thanksgiving turkey with your pet or not, chances are they'll get a few bites from your family or your guests. That might be OK, but to ensure pets don't get sick from rich foods that aren't a normal part of their diet, it's helpful to know the "turkey rules." The rules also cover other holiday goodies.
Turkey in general can be a good lean protein for pets as long as all skin, fat and bones have been removed, according to petmd.com. If you can't resist giving your pet a taste, limit the indulgence to white meat and keep the amount small. One caveat: If your dog or cat has any health problems, don't take a chance but instead give the pet one of his regular treats.
Chances are turkey won't be the only holiday food your pet has a chance to sample. Some foods are more easily tolerated than others, plus there are foods that can be toxic. Anything containing onions, leeks or scallions can make a pet sick; large quantities might lead to toxic anemia. Other foods to avoid include grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, chocolate, anything containing the artificial sweetener xylitol and alcohol.
Foods that are safe in small amounts include green beans, mashed potatoes and plain pasta such as macaroni. If you know your dog or cat has no problems digesting dairy products, then a modicum of macaroni and cheese gets a green light for sharing. Since no traditional Thanksgiving dinner is complete without cranberry sauce, the folks at petmd.com say that it's fine to give pets a tiny taste of the piquant dish.
A FEW SCENTS WORTH
The holidays usually mean more people coming to visit, which might cause a little anxiety for pet owners about possible pet odors lingering in rugs and carpets. Air fresheners can mask odors while having carpets and rugs professionally cleaned can eliminate the odors, but it can be hard to know for certain if they're gone. People get used to the way their houses smell and may not recognize anything amiss.
Freshen carpets and rugs between cleanings by sprinkling them with baking soda. Let the soda sit as long as you can (24 hours is good), then vacuum the area until the baking soda is removed. To give a house a pleasant homey aroma, you can sprinkle cinnamon -- a pet-safe spice -- on the carpet or add it to the vacuum cleaner bag, according to an article in Dogster magazine. Cinnamon will make the house smell as if you've been baking. A caution: The spicy aroma also may inspire actual baking.
A SWEET ROLL
Homemade treats for dogs and cats are fun and easy to make, plus they're nice gifts for other pet owners. But why offer mere treats when you can give a tool to create the special biscuits themselves? Cookie cutters are one option; another is a rolling pin that produces multiple cookies with one quick roll, such as those produced by Sweet Rolling Pins.
The company offers a variety of rolling pins that are etched with designs featuring dog and cat faces, paws and pet silhouettes. They're not just for pet treats, but can be used to make cookies for your family. Check them out at sweetrollingpins.com.
If you're looking for pet biscuit recipes to try out with a pet-theme rolling pin, allrecipes.com posts several cookie recipes for dogs that include ones tailored for diabetic animals.
For cat recipes, take a look at tinyurl.com/ju8s6gg, which gives directions for treats made from kibble and canned cat food. Because the recipes are on the Hill's Pet Nutrition website, they contain Hill's products, but they can be made with other brands.
Family on 11/23/2016