Do you know about dogs and Thanksgiving and pancreatitis?

Question

I learned a few years ago that there is one particular day of the year that more dogs are diagnosed with pancreatitis than any other day... it is the day after Thanksgiving. I still remember this because I have only ever had one dog diagnosed with pancreatitis, and it WAS the day after Thanksgiving!

Sharing a special Thanksgiving dinner with your dogs is fine! They would love some turkey (but not cooked bones!) and some bites of mashed potatoes and yams and maybe some broccoli, a bit of stuffing, a dollop of green bean casserole and some more roast turkey... this is all good (but, don't overfeed them and don't give them a regular amount of their own dinner afterwards!). 

What is NOT good is the greasy stuff! Pancreatitis comes from licking all of the drippings out of the roasting pan and from gravy and from greasy delicious turkey skin. It comes from large portions of fat.

Pancreatitis is very painful. If you have let your dog overindulge (or failed to keep the garbage out of reach) and on Friday your dog has stomach pain (crying or hunching over or staying in the play-bow posture) or vomits, get the dog to the vet. It is serious and requires treatment and can be life-threatening. 

Here's to a happy and moderate Thanksgiving for people and dogs... enjoy healthfully and reasonably!

Julie D. · Accepted Answer

Happy Thanksgiving to you too.  (We'll be havng our feast tomorrow, but it takes me two days to cook everything on my menu)  I saw a reminder about this on news yesterday.  Honestly, we don't give any Thanksgiving *treats* to our dogs, so that won't be a problem at our home, even if something happens to drop on the floor.  I have very little family, and when I do this big *to do* once a year, the dogs get put away, at least during meal time.  Thanks for posting this.

Your link doesn't work for me either.

anne b · Answer

Blue Buffalo makes a great wet food called Thanksgiving Dinner. It gives dogs a treat that is safe and appropriate. Whenever someone tells me their dogs are getting leftovers and table scraps I recommend this alternative.

Anonymous · Answer

Interesting information - however bearing in mind turkey is very rich, as are all the trimmings, we limit how much our lot get over Christmas (no T'giving here but have a Happy one anyhow).

ps   The link doesn't work, for me.

Mary · Answer

Happy T-day to you !!!! Yes, we here know all about it. It is noted in Bull Terriers. Matter a fact one was on tv showing the dog as a example.

Anonymous · Answer

Where is your evidence for the incidence of pancreatitis?

Do you know about dogs and Thanksgiving and pancreatitis?

5 Answers