Go easy on the feast for Fido

Last year, my parent’s dog got violently ill the day after Thanksgiving. Their 5-year-old black Lab loves to eat and they often give in to the dog’s overly ambitious appetite.

The dog developed severe vomiting and diarrhea and spent the weekend at the vet with a hefty bill. While we are not sure of what exactly made the dog sick, they told us that the dog had pancreatitis and inflamed bowels.

What could have caused the illness and what can we avoid this year to prevent the same from happening? They told us to avoid fatty foods. Is dry white turkey meat OK? What about stuffing?

The dog is part of the family and we like to include it in our day of thanks.

While I am sorry to hear that your family dog got ill last year, it is good to know that the dog did well after all. The holidays are a time when we want to share thanks and joy with family including our pets, but we must realize that what is good for humans is not always good for our four-legged family members.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, the organ responsible for producing enzymes that digest food and insulin, which is responsible for sugar levels in the blood. Dogs with pancreatitis are usually middle to older age, heavy, and slightly more prevalent in females. These dogs present with vomiting and diarrhea and are often uncomfortable.

I usually ask owners if the dog got into something fatty since that is usually the precipitating event. Table scraps, fatty turkey skin and meat, as well as many holiday foods are loaded with fat. Luckily pancreatitis can be treated with supportive care, including fluids and other medications as warranted.

Dry white turkey meat is okay. Stuffing needs to be not fatty and should not have ingredients such as sage, nuts, onions. It might be better to avoid altogether. Avoid rich gravy and grapes or raisins. Watch out for turkey bones too as they can cause all sorts of problems. Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and green beans can be given and are safe. Remember that what is equally important is to have limits on quantity.

Labs love to eat, so round out the dog’s appetite with regular dog food or mix the Thanksgiving foods with the dry kibble. Follow these tips and you can all have a great holiday weekend!

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2D8VXvi