[Jenn218]

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather with family and eat lots of delicious food. While you're enjoying your turkey tasting, your pets will stare at you until they get some too! Be aware of the dangers of this holiday when it comes to your furry loved ones.

BONES: Turkey, chicken, and other small animal bones are very different from the large bones you find at the pet store. These small bones splinter easily and can cause serious internal damage if swallowed, so NEVER give them to your pet.

HOT CONTAINERS: Your dog or cat will most likely become curious when they smell something cooking. Keep an eye on hot containers so that your pet does not tip them over and get burned.

PANCREATITIS:
One of the many problems we see with dogs eating foods they shouldn't, is Pancreatitis. You may be familiar with this problem, or perhaps you have been one of the lucky ones who haven't had to experience this with your pet.

THE CAUSE:
There are many things that can cause pancreatitis, one in particular is fatty foods. Especially over this holiday lots of foods are being tossed around. You may be tempted to give your furry friend some fat off the turkey, or the broth you cooked it in. Keep in mind, if you do this you may be causing internal problems you can't see.

THE SIGNS:
Dogs with pancreatitis may act depressed, lose their appetite, have vomiting or diarrhea. They may also show signs of being painful in the abdomen. You will see this by them acting restless, panting, or unwillingness to lie down. Cats can be a little more vague with signs ranging from poor appetite and fever to an elevated heart rate. Unlike dogs, they are less likely to have abdominal pain and vomiting.

If you are noticing that your pet has any of these signs, especially after eating some foods he/she wasn't use to, then you will need to call your veterinarian as soon as possible.

THE TREATMENT:
The treatment of pancreatitis can vary greatly depending on the severity and duration of the illness. You may be able to treat your pet with medications or a special diet prescribed by your veterinarian. For the more severe cases your pet may have to be admitted into the hospital and be maintained on IV fluids and medications.

LONG TERM EFFECTS:
The long term side effects of pancreatitis could be diabetes. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and with severe pancreatitis the function of the pancreas could be diminished. This would cause less production of insulin. Animals that have recovered from pancreatitis are more prone to developing it again in the future. For this reason, you may need to keep your pet on a restricted veterinary diet and avoid all fatty foods.