10 Thanksgiving safety tips for clients and pets

Turkey day is right around the corner, so remind clients of these pet safety tips from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer so they can avoid a trip to the emergency veterinary clinic or spending the evening searching for a missing pet.

• Most pets do not tolerate spicy seasonings very well or large quantities of food. Avoid giving pets a sampling of everything on the human menu.

• On the morning of the holiday, exercise the dog to try to wear it out before guests arrive.

• Make sure to dispose of turkey bones where the pet cannot get to it. These bones will splinter when chewed. Bones can get caught in a pet's esophagus or intestinal track and could be life threatening.

• Rancid food is full of bacteria and can make a pet very sick, so make sure garbage is not accessible to the pet.

• Turkey stuffing may contain onions, garlic, or raisins-all toxic to dogs, so resist the urge to feed your dog human food.

• Remind guests not to offer table scraps or appetizers to the dog.

• If the family pet is skittish around people, noises, sudden movement then containing the dog away from the stimulation is recommended.

• Offer special chew toys during the time people are buzzing around.

• An open door or open garage may be an invitation for your pet to bolt. Keep your pet contained while guests are coming or going.

• Make sure your pet has ID and license on a collar just in case it bolts out an open door.