Turkey, stuffing, and all the other delectable trimmings for your Thanksgiving feast are enough to make anyone’s mouth water, even your pets’. But experts warn that letting pets gobble up turkey table scraps and/or other festive fare can be harmful. As Thanksgiving draws near, the Arizona Humane Society offers the following pet safety tips:

Don't share your Thanksgiving meal with your pets
Turkey and other high-fat foods can be harm your pets' digestive systems. In fact, these foods often cause serious stomach upset marked by excessive vomiting or diarrhea. In severe cases, pets can develop swelling of the pancreas, which, if left untreated, can be fatal.

Don't pour turkey fat or pan drippings over dog or cat food
It may be savory to you, but again, the fat content is too high for an animal's digestive system and may result in pancreatic swelling. Instead, keep your pet on his normal diet and if you want to give him a special treat, make sure it’s one especially made for pets.

Don't give your pets turkey bones
Turkey bones tend to be very sharp and brittle. As a result, they can end up lodged in a pet's throat, stomach and bowels. If Fido or Fluffy finds a turkey bone, take it away.

Keep chocolate away from pets, especially dogs
Never feed chocolate to your pets and pay special attention to baker's chocolate, fudge, candy and other sweets. When entertaining, never leave goodies on low tables where pets can easily access them. The chemical theobromine in chocolate can have serious effects on a pet's neurological and cardiac systems. The toxic dose of theobromine for pets is 100-200 mg/kg; but pets have suffered medical problems with doses as low as 20 mg/kg. So, for example, a 50-pound dog would reach a level of 20 mg/kg of theobromine by eating nine ounces of milk chocolate (approximately five "average-sized" candy bars) or one package of unsweetened or semi-sweet chocolate chips. Of course, it takes far less for a smaller dog to reach the danger point. Signs of toxicity are most commonly seen within 12 hours (or less) of chocolate ingestion and include excitement/trembling, vomiting/diarrhea, excessive thirst/urination, muscle spasms, seizures, coma and death.

Secure your garbage after the meal
It may be garbage to you, but pets are attracted to the many wonderful smells emitted from your garbage can – leftovers, turkey bones, dessert and more. When no one is looking, many pets will help themselves to the trash. Help them avoid the temptation by securing the trash and taking it out before going to bed.

Watch for symptoms that may signal a health problem
Vomiting and diarrhea are the most common signs of your pet's overindulgence of human holiday fare. Also be on the lookout for lethargy, seizures, inability to go to the bathroom, shallow breathing, whining or other behaviors that seem out of the ordinary for your pet. If you see any of these signs, consult a veterinarian immediately.

Know the location of the nearest emergency veterinary clinic
If your pet needs care – especially on a holiday – you won't have time to search for the address. Find it now and post it next to the telephone or on the refrigerator door. Remember that most veterinary offices may be closed on holidays. Find out before the holiday if and when your veterinarian will be open and have a back-up plan in place in case your pet needs emergency care during off hours.

As the ghosts and goblins fill your neighborhoods in search of sugary treats this Halloween, don't forget that it can be a frightful night for your pets. Be sure to keep these safety tips in mind as you enjoy this spook-tacular evening:

KEEP PETS INDOORS
Confine cats and dogs to a secure room with food, water, toys, a litter box and bedding so you can keep them from the often-frightening sights and sounds of trick-or-treaters. What could be so frightening to your pet on this hallowed eve?

“Sit!” “Stay!” “Down!” All of us want a well-behaved dog, but most of us aren't quite sure where to begin. Most successful dog trainers agree that positive reinforcement is the key to training your lovable pet into a well-behaved member of the family.

Positive reinforcement is, simply put, giving your pet something pleasant or rewarding immediately after a “good” or desired behavior. It makes the rewarded behavior more likely to happen again and again.

Good timing is essential when using positive reinforcement. The reward must occur immediately, or your pet may not associate it with the proper action. For instance – if you have your dog “sit,” but reward him after he's already stood up, the little guy will think he's been rewarded for standing up.

Consistency is the key to your pet learning commands. Everyone in your household should use the same words. A good idea might be to post the commands on your fridge. Some good examples of command words:

• Watch me
• Sit
• Stay
• Down
• Off
• Stand
• Heel
• Leave It
• Settle

While every animal is different, positive reinforcement can include things such as food treats, praise, petting or brief play. Food treats tend to work best, but try out different techniques to learn which is best for your pooch. Small, soft food treats work best so that the pet doesn't get distracted and place the food on the ground to continue eating the treat – the goal is to keep your pet's attention on you and the task at hand. Each time you reward, say something like “good sit” or “good stay” in a cheerful voice.

As time progresses, you can give treats for every other good command until you wean him away from constant praise.

For more information about dog training, download our pdf on Training Your Dog or Cat with Treats and Praise.

Need a pro? Check out one of the sources below for training classes in your area:

Pet Behavior Solutions
www.petbehaviorsolutions.com

PETSMART
www.petsmart.com

Waggin' Train
www.waggintrain.com