Don't be a Turkey this Thanksgiving

Although Thanksgiving is a time for sharing, we urge you not to share your holiday meal leftovers with your pet. Table scraps, including Thanksgiving turkey, are unhealthy for pets. Turkey bones or spoiled meat could be especially dangerous to your pet's health.

Turkey bones, like other bird bones, are hollow and therefore break easily and splinter into sharp pieces. Most dogs and cats will not chew the bone thoroughly and sharp pieces can cause blockage and perforate the intestinal tract.

A pet who has a turkey bone lodged in his digestive system may not show any symptoms for 1 to 2 days. When symptoms do occur, they may include loss of appetite, depression, vomiting, or diarrhea. Sometimes the bone will pass by itself; other times it may need to be surgically removed.

Another common ailment in pets who eat leftover turkey is salmonella food poisoning. Salmonella is an organism that lives in the turkey's intestinal tract. The cooking process usually destroys all the organisms, making the turkey safe to eat. Occasionally, the center of the turkey may be undercooked, especially if it's large or full of stuffing. If the meat sits out at room temperature for too long, the salmonella organisms can multiply and cause contamination. Pets may become poisoned if they eat any of the turkey that has been sitting out.

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, a high temperature, loss of appetite, and listlessness.

Another problem that can occur if your pet overeats a large amount of fatty foods on Thanksgiving is pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas.

Symptoms of pancreatitis are variable. Vomiting and abdominal pain are the most common symptoms of pancreatitis. Trembling, panting and a hunched-up abdomen indicate pain in a dog. Diarrhea, often tinted with blood, fever, and weakness are also very common.

Acute pancreatitis is a medical emergency. Dogs experiencing acute pancreatitis are usually in severe pain.

Pets should not be allowed to eat table scraps, even on Thanksgiving. If your pet sneaks some turkey or other food from the table and begins showing any of the signs listed in this article, consult your veterinarian immediately.