The days following Thanksgiving can be some of the busiest at veterinary hospitals across the country. Whether pets are intentionally given food scraps under the dinner table or your dog manages to counter surf and grab the turkey just out of the oven, a sudden spike occurs in the number of ill dogs within days of the holiday. This year, help save your pet, you, and your wallet stress by avoiding the trigger items that can send them to a Black Friday vet visit.
Everyone loves turkey, and I’ll bet your dog does too! Greasy leftover bits of turkey and other Thanksgiving favorites are big perpetrators of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and can be a life-threatening condition. Many animals end up hospitalized on intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and pain medication for days. Generally, the prognosis is good when the signs are caught in time and treated appropriately. Signs to look out for include: vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Your vet can generally diagnose pancreatitis on bloodwork and sometimes x-rays and ultrasound are indicated. Despite successful treatment of pancreatitis, irreversible changes to the pancreas can result in diabetes (similar to Type I diabetes in humans). Though diabetes is also treatable in dogs, we’d prefer they don’t have pancreatitis in the first place! Not all dogs with vomiting or diarrhea have pancreatitis. Some may have an inflamed stomach or intestines and should still be seen by your vet to control the symptoms and rule out pancreatitis.
Avoiding pancreatitis can be simple, and starts with not feeding table scraps and making sure all family members are on board with that plan. If your friends or family happen to avoid this rule of thumb, there are some safer options for your dog on the holidays. All items should be free of seasoning, butter, etc.: string beans, sweet potato, bread, regular potatoes, and your dog’s normal dog treats. Bland items are best, but are no guarantee they will not upset your dog’s stomach. It’s always best to stick with the dog treats he or she is used to. As much as we love your pets, keep them healthy and home for the holidays!
