Thanksgiving Petiquette

Are you hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year? Many people are really looking forward to this year’s festivities, as so many of last year’s were derailed by the pandemic. Of course, if you want things to go smoothly, you may want to take a few precautions to help your four-legged friend put their best paw forward. A Huntersville, NC vet discusses Thanksgiving petiquette below.

Grooming

Make sure your furry friend is nice and clean. Give Fido a bath, or take him to the salon for a full beauty treatment. Fluffy is pretty good about keeping herself clean, but it won’t hurt to give her a good brushing.

Pet Fur Busting

Pets fill our lives and homes with love, which we’re definitely very thankful for. They also fill our homes with fur. Thoroughly vacuuming and dusting will remove a lot of that pet hair. To de-fur your furniture, try using a damp sponge or washcloth, or a squeegee. Rubber dish gloves will also work.

Workout

Our four-legged pals can be very playful and active. You’ll want to work off those zoomies before company arrives, especially if your pet is very frisky and energetic. Taking Fido for a nice long walk is a great way to relax and clear your head before dinner. As for our feline pals, well, many of them will sleep through dinner. However, Fluffy will still enjoy a fun session of Catch The Red Dot.

Begging

Some of our furry companions are very, very good at getting their humans to share yummy tidbits. However, begging is bad manners, and may even make guests uneasy. If your pet’s table manners could use work, keep them crated or in another room during dinner.

Ground Rules

You don’t need to present guests with a ten-part rule book for interacting with your pets. However, it is a good idea to ask them not to feed or discipline your pet without checking with you. This is one area where an ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure.

Bribery

Trying to tell your pet why it’s important for them to be polite probably won’t get you very far. Bribery is a much better tactic. Giving your furry buddy a new toy can go a long way in keeping them occupied … and out of trouble.

Happy Thanksgiving! Please contact us, your Huntersville, NC pet hospital, anytime. We’re here for you!