Wendy Turner DVM

Shared with permission from the owner of BeCozi.com.

A big part of maintaining a cat’s mental health is providing plenty of sleeping places throughout their home. Cats prefer nest-style beds, ideally ones that cover them up and become dark. I found these online several years ago - they’re easy to make, you can get the yarn at Michael’s, they’re easy to move, and they can fit in all sorts of places. My cats love them.

I always have trouble getting started but watch closely and you’ll get it. Once you do, you’re off to the races! You can make one in under an hour. You can also go to her YouTube channel - she has tons of videos. Have fun!

https://youtu.be/5haFhChOrK0?si=ZOE4Dq3Kf5m_wAjT

THANKSGIVING FOR PETS (with recipes!)

Dog and cat safety has been covered here. Everyone has a plan, I’m sure! I mentioned a list of “beware foods” - but the urge to treat our pets is strong during this time of year, too. I get it. Miles used to get a “birthday cupcake” - ham, cat food, and peanut butter - one of my favorite things to do for him. With that in mind… We vets tell people all the time, "Don't give your pet people food!" but for some people, it is a meaningful part of the relationship with their dog or cat. I'd rather tell you what you *can* give in a way that is healthy, and brainstorm ideas to help you do this in a way that doesn't skimp on nutrition or cause weight gain.

What kind of food *can* your pet have? If you want your fuzzball (or in some cases, nakey-bakey) to have a Thanksgiving treat, skip anything with spices, herbs, or any of the foods listed in my previous post. Here’s a quick refresher: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets .

Keep the amounts down! They don't have pants buttons to undo, and I have done surgery on a dog who over-ate and became impacted. An endless stream of snacks throughout the day will likely end up with a visit to the local veterinary ER - not ideal, so moderation is vital. I cannot stress this enough: do not overfeed your pet on this day (or any day). It’s not worth it. Remember that to them, it’s just another day on the calendar.

Safer foods for your pet:
Turkey breast is acceptable (and legs/thighs for cats). A good rule is to divide your pet's weight in half, divide by 10, and give that size in inches long, 1/2" wide. So, an 80 lb dog can have a 4” x 1/2” piece of turkey. Fair? Break it up into tiny bits so they have multiple “opportunities” to enjoy these treats. You can also give dogs small plain apple slices, fresh vegetables, or bits of cooked unflavored sweet potato. Cats can have **in moderation** small bits of cooked turkey meat, turkey skin, turkey parts from the parts bag except the neck (🤢), a little cube of plain baked sweet potato, or a little cube of cornbread (“cube” = pinkie-sized, as long as you’re not using Uncle Jay With the Giant Hands’ pinkie).

Treats you can make for your healthy pets for special occasions (I do not recommend these if your pet is on a specialized diet or has a sensitive stomach):

Dogs - Thanksgiving treat cup: crush a small dog treat into a small cup or bowl. Layer 1-2 T plain nonfat yogurt on top. Shred 1T turkey for the next layer. Drizzle a little peanut butter over that (I know I know, but they love it. Dogs who joyfully eat cat p**p cannot be choosers). Finish off with an itty bitty sq**rt of whipped cream, and top with a small piece of sweet potato, plain pumpkin, or another dog treat. If your doggie is less than 20 lbs, adjust amounts downward accordingly (this treat as written would feed a tiny Yorkie for 2 days I think).

Cats - just give the carnivore some turkey 😆 Cats love whipped cream - I've used it in exam rooms for nervous kitties. So let's try this - make a little charcuterie board for your kitty, making the portions tiny, like pinkie-nail sized: a cube or 2 of turkey, a smudge of whipped cream, a little dash of plain pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix), a tiny piece of butter, a cooked pea or 3, a little flake of cheese, a dot or 2 of plain applesauce, and a little cornbread cube. My cats would go nuts for this, but they're a bunch of tiny furry sharks so no surprise there. Let me know how it goes!

There you go. Your pets likely aren’t as choosy as people, and they would probably also be delighted with one of their usual treats. Hopefully, these suggestions will allow for some creativity and some special cooking for your best furry friends.

It's almost Thanksgiving, and I give thanks for having one of the best jobs in the world, having met some of the most wonderful people through that job, and being able to help you all take the best care of your dogs and cats (especially cats, being a cat doctor with a dog habit).

OK enough of the mushy stuff - let's get to the turkey and potatoes! Here are some tips to keep your dogs and cats safe and healthy on National Good Thing I Wore Stretchy Pants Day.

The biggest danger is food: bones, fat, food impaction, garlic/onions, more fat, other goodies, chocolate... the list goes on. Here's a good one from ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets

Remember that unsupervised food is dangerous all day! And overfeeding your dog or cat can be disastrous, even if it is healthy food. If you're going to give your pet fancy food, cut down on their usual food and be aware that some dogs and cats have sensitive stomachs & may not be able to indulge. This will not hurt their feelings and they will forgive you (except maybe Huskies… or Abys. Ask me how I know). Specific foods to avoid at Thanksgiving include garlic, onions, leeks, chives, xylitol, chocolate, unbaked yeast dough, grapes, raisins, pumpkin pie mix, and corn cobs. To be safe, avoid anything seasoned and check that food list, above.

Make sure your garbage is always out of reach. This means for cats, too! I don't know about yours, but at least one of mine nearly has thumbs. She can get into anything. I keep all my food scraps in a big Rubbermaid container with a lid, then wrap and dump at the end of the day. Thumbs (aka, Leda) hasn't figured that one out — yet. They're nosy, too - see pic of Odin, doing a little Nose Shopping.

Visitors: we love them and we can also find them stressful. Dogs and cats may simply find them stressful, especially if they are not “people-people.” For both, set them up in a quiet room or crate that is comfortable, including water, litter box, toileting pad if applicable. Give dogs a favorite toy, such as a Kong lined with peanut butter or similar spreadable. Cats can have a box to hide in, or an open closet door to help them feel more safe. Both may be comforted by a favorite bed or one of your worn T-shirts if they’re not prone to eating bedding when stressed. If your pet is very prone to anxiety with visitors, talk to your veterinarian about medical solutions. Remember many of these people are strangers to your pets.

If you can leave your kitties and puppos at large, monitor exit doors so nobody slips out. Check your pets’ microchip registrations to ensure they are up to date. Keep guests’ coats, handbags, etc, in a room away from the doors so they can prepare to leave without the door open. If a pet does escape, alert the local police department, animal control, area shelters, and veterinary facilities so they are on the lookout. Post signs around your neighborhood with a recent picture, and any medical alerts that may be relevant. Prevention is key!

Finally, Thanksgiving is usually the starting line for holiday celebrations and decor (not August 1st, like some big box stores would have you believe LOL). Be aware of anything a cat or dog may eat or otherwise get into. Cats + Christmas trees = a big mess sometimes. Dogs who can fit anything into their mouths have tons of targets during the holidays. Cords look especially tasty during this time of year, and cats famously love to knock things (candle holders, menorahs, centerpieces, etc) off of tables. (Because it’s on page 3 of the Feline Rule Book). Several plants that are popular during this period (amaryllis, other bulbs such as paperwhites, holly, etc) are toxic. Here is a list from Animal Poison Control Center: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants This includes a list for horses, so those of you with house horses are covered, too 😁 Some toxicities cause GI upset, and some can be deadly.

At any rate, enjoy this day. With a few precautions, your pets will, too!

If I can figure out how to post to my story here: would you guys rather see funny/heartwarming memes/reels, or practical/professional stuff? ❤️ for funny etc, 😮 for practical etc.

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Hello everyone! I plan on posting here regularly, and would love to know what everyone wants to learn. Comment below with topics you'd like covered. The more engagement I have, the sooner I will start posting!

Keep in mind: I am not offering advice on individual cases. However, I will accept pictures of all pets at any time! 😻