Thanksgiving is celebrated to be grateful to the Almighty for all the love and laughter in our lives. It was celebrated originally after the harvest season to thank God for the bountiful crops and hence the prosperity in our lives. Now as people have graduated from being farmers to other professions as well, this day remains special because we remember to appreciate all the good that has been bestowed on us. Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year, this year it falls on the 24^th of November.

Since Thanksgiving is about being grateful for the love in our lives, it is enjoyed with friends and family over dinner of pies and of course turkey. For all pet parents, our fur babies remain as much part of our lives as our friends and relatives. How can we not include them in the festivities because it is they who have taught us what unconditional love means. Irrespective of our looks or social standards, it is our fur pals who make us feel so special with all the adulation they have in their eyes and gestures for us. This Thanksgiving, let us remember to thank God for bringing them in our lives and making it so much more enjoyable and happy because of them.

The celebration of this day is all about good food and wine. Roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pies and so many more delicacies for us to enjoy and relish. While most of these dishes are unfit for our felines and canine friends, we don’t have the heart to say no to them when they beg us for some. After all, the aroma is so tempting. Waggfluence understands that you want to make this day for your four legged friends just as special. So we have a few things that we would like you to bear in mind to make this day a joyful one for all.

Food safety

Dogs and cats have a hard time processing fatty foods like turkey skin. If they accidently eat turkey, it could harm them as other than fat content, even small pieces of bone can lead to gastrointestinal injury. If the pets get to where you have kept your uncooked turkey, they may consume a portion which harms them as raw turkey contains salmonella bacteria. Other than turkey, you need to be careful about keeping your bread dough out of the reach of your feline and canine friends as the yeast could become life threatening for them if consumed accidently. The same goes for your baking mixture of pies and cakes as raw eggs and artificial sweetener in them could lead to food poisoning. While receiving chocolate gifts from friends, remember to store it away from the reach of your fur pals as consumption of chocolates by cats and dogs may lead to serious health implications like diarrhea, vomiting and seizures.

Decorative dangers

Decorating your house is a part of celebrating Thanksgiving. While it imparts a great addition to your home décor, you should be watchful enough that they are out of reach of paws. Small decorative pieces are something your fur pal may choke on while some flower and plant decorations are poisonous to the pets if ingested. Some popular fall plants often found in festive decorations like Autumn crocus, Chrysanthemum, acorns etc. are toxic to both dogs and cats. You will also want to be careful with candles that curious kitties and puppies could knock over.

Guests and celebration

If you are the host and your fur pal has not met your guests before, you should be ready to deal with it. Your pet could become shy, nervous or overly excited on seeing a house full of unknown people. Try to calm them and keep away in another room with plenty of toys, a bowl full of fresh water and some treats to soothe them. You should also be aware of watching them when the guests are coming or going lest they make a dash for the outdoors. Now is the best time to get Waggle pet monitor with GPS tracking to help locate your pet if they run away.

If you are travelling with your pet to be a guest at some friend’s or family’s place, you should be prepared with the travel accessories you would need. Travelling by car would require some essentials that you help you make the trip stress free and enjoyable. Get a Waggfluence portable pet dog/car nonslip car seat with seat belt for a safe and comfortable journey. A pet carrier bag like Waggfluence cat and dog carrier bag or Waggfluence trolley would be great. Stock up on pet food, pet feeders and bowls beforehand so as to not miss out on any essentials.

No matter how immaculately you plan, there is still the fear of any mishaps that are unforeseen. Be prepared for such emergencies and keep a medical first aid kit ready with you. Ask your vet for any further precautions and for an emergency vet clinic near to your place of holidaying. Let Thanksgiving be a day of immense joy and enjoyment for both you and your fur pals. From the team of Waggfluence here’s wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving and many memories to cherish a lifetime.