Have a Blissful Thanksgiving…For Your Blissful Dog

Thanksgiving can be a holiday of too much of a good thing…for you and your blissful dog! Let””s all make 2009 the year we rein in that excess…for everyone.

Our beloved dogs are usually not accustomed to eating all kinds of people food, so it is NOT a treat for them to be given scraps from Thanksgiving dinner. It can result in uber-upsets to doggie tummies and trips to the vet, at emergency room prices for you both!

Too make things easier on yourself, your vet, your checkbook, and most importantly your pet, stay away from the following:

#1 Anything your dog does not usually eat. Yep, this means turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie and all the rest. Just don””t do it. That means anything new. Even the healthiest seeming food (like white meat turkey) can wreak havoc on an unprepared digestive tract.

#2 Anything that should go in the trash. This means if you cannot decide whether to toss it in the trash or give it to your dog, gimme a break, throw it is the trash!!!

#3 Any dessert can be bad for your dog””s belly, but especially those with a lot of cream or chocolate. Yes, it is true…chocolate can kill your dog, especially the all natural, healthy way yummy types.

#4 Onions can be especially problematic. This type of plants (of the allium genus, which includes onion, garlic, leek and chive) is actually toxic to cats”” and dogs”” red blood cells. No onions…period!

#5 Bones…DUH…what more do we need to say! No bones!

#6 Relatives and friends who feed your pet, thinking that you won””t mind. Either tell everyone that you are NOT kidding, that they are NOT to feed even one morsel to your dog without your permission OR post a sign. Tell them they will be responsible for any vet bills incurred by their feeding your dog and then stick to it. If you have people in your life who just cannot seem to listen to you on this (well, you might want to do some inner work on that issue), you might consider putting your dog safely in the bedroom away from well-intended family.

Let;s make Thanksgiving 2009 a safe, happy, healthy holiday for you and your blissful dog. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at The Blissful Dog!