THANKSGIVING MEAL & ACUTE PANCREATITIS

Acute Pancreatitis is a stomach upset and more. It can be extremely serious and something to be avoided especially over a holiday weekend. Dealing with pancreatitis means a quick to a trip to the ER with a sick pooch.
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Symptoms include:
Vomiting,
Loss of appetite
Lethargy
Gagging
​Abdominal pain,
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​Dehydration
Bloating
Diarrhea
Other possible issues

PET POISON HELPLINE: 855- 764 - 7661
*There is a fee per incident
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ORIGINALLY WRITTEN 11.26.2020

IMAGE COURTESY OF TENDER TOUCH VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Dehydration and diarrhea for a pup is extremely serious and not to be waited upon. Dehydration includes dry nose, dry/sticky gums, thick saliva, panting, lethargy, loss of skin elasticity, and/or appetite. 
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Gastrointestinal issues or acute Pancreatitis are infamous in veterinary clinics and emergency veterinary hospitals Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday. The cause is simple, people share their Thanksgiving Day meal with their pet.

​Here are some guidelines regarding holiday mealtime for your pet.

1. Do Not Overdo.
2. Keep it PLAIN for your dog.
3. Food your dog should avoid according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
4. Alliums (vegetables) which include onions, garlic (most common), and scallions. Additionally, there are leeks and chives. These spices are toxic for dogs and can cause a change in the red blood cell count.
5. Grapes (in any form), raisins, alcohol and currants can result in sudden kidney failure (Veterinary Center of America)
6. The AVMA offers these additional guidelines regarding foods to avoid:
7. Fatty foods such as the skin with all its spices, butter, and oil.
8. Any bones. Poultry bones are razor sharp, can splinter, perforate intestines and pose a choking hazard. Remember to keep the bird carcass out of reach. Carefully search any turkey scraps for small bones.
9. Butter, sour cream, whipped cream, gravy, and bacon drippings are high in fat. Avoid cocoa, chocolate and corn cobs.
10. Dressing (toxic spices or ingredients), pumpkin pie (any pie), green bean casserole, potatoes with toppings, sweet potatoes with toppings. Marshmallows may have the deadly toxin (for dogs): xylitol. Any unnamed
11. Sugar ‘substitute’ could include xylitol. Xylitol causes acute liver and kidney failure along with blood clotting issues. Xylitol is found in many bakery items. Avoid any candy and gum.
12. Carrots with glaze. Foods can hide dangers for doggies.
13. Yeast dough and nuts particularly Macadamia nuts and almonds.
14. Pork. Pork such as bar-b-que has toxic seasoning for dogs.
15. Ham. It is very fatty, difficult for dogs to digest and loaded with salt. Too much salt can lead to Pancreatitis.
16. Turkey bags. A dog can swallow plastic bits with the goodies.
17. Place bones and bag in trash well away from a scrounging hound(s).
18. Toxic spices nutmeg, mace, bay leaves, cloves, garlic salt or powder, onion, onion powder, vanilla, chili powder, curry powder, paprika, black pepper, salt, rosemary, chives, flaxseed, pumpkin spice, allspice
19. Miscellaneous foods to avoid are citrus, milk, and avocado​
20. Things Your Dog Can Share (AKC and others).
21. Without additives (Plain): apples, peas, pumpkin, green beans, white turkey meat (no skin), potatoes, celery, broccoli, carrots, corn, sweet potatoes, and asparagus.
22. Safe spices are turmeric, ginger, parsley, basil, dill seed, and sage, mint flakes

Have a fabulous holiday meal. Now you know how to keep your four-legged friend safe from some hazardous holiday foods.
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References:https://www.petplate.com/blog/thanksgiving-foods-and-
Bender, Kelli. “It's Unsafe to Feed Your Dog Scraps from the Thanksgiving Table (Even Turkey!), Vet Expert Says.” PEOPLE.com, 16 Nov. 2020, https://people.com/pets/dont-feed-dog-thanksgiving-food-scraps-vet/.

Bryant, Carol. “Is Cumin Safe for Dogs plus Spices That Can Be Harmful.” Fidose of Reality, 12 Aug. 2019, https://fidoseofreality.com/10-spices-may-harm-dogs/.

Dobbs, Renee. “Spices Dogs Can and Can't Eat. What to Know about Dogs and Spices.” Spoiled Hounds, 21 Mar. 2022, https://spoiledhounds.com/spices-dogs-can-eat/#can-dogs-eat-anise.

“Don't Serve Pancreatitis for Thanksgiving Dinner!” Tender Touch Veterinary Hospital, 6 Nov. 2017, https://www.tendertouchvethosp.com/blog/dont-serve-pancreatitis-for-thanksgiving-dinner.

Frishberg, Hannah. “Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Staples That Can Be Deadly for Cats and Dogs.” New York Post, New York Post, 20 Nov. 2020, https://nypost.com/2020/11/20/turkey-dinner-staples-that-can-be-deadly-for-cats-and-dogs/.

Fuller DVM, Dr. Mary. “10 Best and Worst Thanksgiving Foods for Dogs and Cats.” Vetstreet, 16 Nov. 2015, http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/10-best-and-worst-thanksgiving-foods-for-pets.

Sailer, Cecily. “5 Safe and 5 Dangerous Spices for Dogs.” The Dog People by Rover.com, 25 Nov. 2019, https://www.rover.com/blog/5-safe-5-dangerous-spices-dogs/.

ThePetplate Team in Nutruition, Petplate, Wellness. “Which Thanksgiving Foods Are Safe for My Dog?” PetPlate, 10 Dec. 2020, https://www.petplate.com/blog/thanksgiving-foods-and-dogs/.