Every year during the holidays we get calls and questions about irregular and upset digestive system problems experienced by our beloved four-legged companions. While there are many causes for gastrointestinal distress, around this time of year it is often the result of heavy holiday meals and table scrap mishaps.
Our local emergency veterinary clinic MedVet regularly reports a 25% increase in GI-related cases during the holidays.
Common Causes of GI Distress
- Intestinal parasites
- The dewormer for intestinal parasites
- Incorrect food or food change
- Vaccines
- Eating roadkill
- Eating Holiday food scraps!
It’s not always possible to prevent your mischievous little one from nabbing a few tasty morsels from under the table (policing Grandma or the kiddos is hard work), but Dr. Laurel has a few tips to help including:
- What to do if your fluffernutter experiences GI distress after eating rich holiday foods
- Foods to always avoid
- Alternative holiday meals for dogs and cats
“Benji! Get Out of the Turkey Gravy!”
It happens. So what do you do when your furry friend overindulges on the holiday delights? Dr. Laurel recommends a proprietary blend of anti-inflammatory herbs and pre and probiotics called Gut Soothe. Gut Soothe works by soothing and replenishing the lining of the bowel, fighting yeast, and combating unhealthy bacteria.
Here, Dr. Laurel further explains why she recommends Gut Soothe:
While table scraps may be inevitable depending on your holiday dinner guest list, do take caution. There are six types of foods that dogs and cats should never have including cooked bones, chocolate, nuts, onions, and more! Read the full article to learn more about foods to avoid so your four-legged friends can stay happy and healthy this holiday season (and beyond).
A Better Approach to the Holidays
You can absolutely include your Furry Loved Ones on Thanksgiving and other holidays without wreaking havoc on their digestive systems.
Instead of table scraps, consider enhancing their normal cuisine. Adding warm, sodium-free or low-sodium broth to their food is an easy and tasty way to turn an average meal into a special holiday meal. Or, if your fluffy pals do well with new foods, you can spice things up by treating them to a tasty new protein. Sprinkle some freshly cooked organic meat (or raw if they are raw eaters) into their regular food. But only add a small amount as too much could cause an upset tummy.
Canned pumpkin is also safe (and appropriately themed for Thanksgiving) to give but only in small quantities (sudden extra fiber may cause diarrhea).
And let’s not forget that there are lots of ways to make your furry friend feel special that do not involve food. Something that would be super for the both of you is a rowdy play session or a stimulating walk so that you can bond and burn off those extra calories!