As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we like to include our pets in with the festivities. Some may feel that Fido or Whiskers should have a special meal as well. However, you have to be aware of the human foods that you could be feeding your pet. It is vital to understand that not all human food is safe for pet consumption. If you feed your pet the wrong food, it could have a serious and life-threatening effect. When considering whether or not to feed your dog or cat some turkey, stuffing or cranberry sauce, please check out this information first.

1) Herbs found in stuffing, put on the turkey or in other Thanksgiving side dishes can be poisonous to your pets. Sage is a popular herb that is used during the preparation of Thanksgiving meals. This herb, along with many others and even essential oils that people may infuse their foods with can have harmful effects on your pet if they ingest them. These herbs can cause an upset stomach as well as other unwanted side effects. Be sure to research any oils and herbs that are in the foods you may be thinking about giving to your pets before you do so.

2) Onions are widely known as a food to never feed your dogs. If you frequently feed onions to your dogs, it can lead to serious complications which may be irreversible. Thanksgiving dishes such as stuffing generally contain onions. You should not feed onions to your dog because it can cause a life-threatening aspect of anemia. This disease can even go on without any noticeable symptoms until your dog is no longer able to recover. You don't want to make the mistake of having it be too late for your pet, so do not feed your dog onions.

3) Everyone knows that dogs love bones. However, you should not feed your dog bones that have been cooked. Cooked bones become fragile and easily breakable. As your pet chews on the bones, small and sharp pieces of the bone can become lodged in his/her windpipe and cause your pet to choke. These bones can also lodge themselves into your pet's intestines. So just be sure to throw away all scraps from your Thanksgiving turkey.

4) Many may not even consider this to be harmful for pets, but gravy can also lead to health complications. Foods that are rich in fats, like what can be found in gravy, have been shown to lead to pancreatic. This is a condition in which the pancreas becomes inflamed. This organ is located near the stomach, which causes your pet to refuse to eat or vomit. Pay attention to the early warning signs and find out what you can do to help ease the pain and get rid of the affliction.

Typical Thanksgiving foods that are good to feed your pets consist of turkey, cranberries, pumpkin, yams and plain mashed potatoes. Make sure to only give your pet small size bites of turkey without the skin. The white meat is also better than the dark meat for your pet. Prepared cranberries that do not have a lot of sugar will make a nice treat for your dog. Only give your dog a small amount, though. Cranberries have Vitamin C and antioxidants, which are beneficial to your pet. Canned pumpkin is very healthy for your dog. Only give it to him/her prior to adding it into your pumpkin pie recipe, though. Do not feed your dog pumpkin pie, just the canned pumpkin itself. Yams that have been prepared alone, not in a dish or covered in herbs or oils are great for your dog. They contain lots of fiber, which is great for your dog.

Those of us who have dogs as pets know that they can sometimes be escape artists. Maybe they figured out how to unlatch the gate or there was a hole under the fence they climbed out from. The fact is, sometimes dogs can get loose. When you try to catch your dog, this may prove a difficult task as he/she may not want to be caught. Your dog may also think you are playing a game and continue to run away from you and wag his/her tail every time you come near. Here is how to make this little game they play easier and more effective at catching and collaring your dog.

1) Instead of running after your dog, do the opposite. Stop what you are doing and simply sit or lie down. Your dog will not know what to make of this action. He/she will tend to be inquisitive and come to you. Maybe your dog thinks something is wrong with you and he/she is trying to help. In any case, you have put an end to your dog playing a game of running away from you.

2) Another similar way to get your dog to stop running away from you is to stop, lie down on the ground and get yourself into the fetal position. This behavior will make your dog stop and wonder what you are doing. As you are lying there and being very still, your dog will not interpret this behavior as threatening. He/she will be more likely to come over to you and try to figure out what could be wrong. When your dog comes to you, the opportunity to collar him/her is there.

3) If your dog thinks you are playing a game when you are chasing after him/her, then the chase will go on and your dog will continue to have the upper hand. However, if you turn the tables and run in the opposite direction your dog may feel like it's his/her turn to chase you, in a playful manner. As you are doing this and your dog begins to chase after you, try going to a location that will make it easy for you to collar your pet.

4) Along the same lines of stopping and lying on the ground, you can also sit on the ground with your back to your dog. This can signify an action that is out of the ordinary to your dog. He/she may feel more inclined to check this out and see why you are behaving in that way. You will not seem like such a threat to your dog if you are seated in this manner. Prior to sitting down, it will also benefit you to make a short and spaced out path of treats leading right to you.

5) Dogs who love car rides can be tricked into thinking you are going for a ride, even when you are simply trying to capture him/her. You may feel like this is a sad thing to do to your dog, but when you are desperate and trying to catch him/her you will try just about anything. This method may prove to be an excellent way of getting hold of your dog again.

TORTOISES AS PETS

If you are looking at keeping a tortoise as a pet then be kind.  Select an indigenous variety that is familiar with your climate.  To choose an exotic tortoise will be unfair to them if you live in a cold climate and want to source a pet from a tropical climate, unless you have the means to imitate their natural environment.

Having said that it will still be preferable to house a tortoise outside and build an enclosure that imitates its usual environment unless the tortoise is not in optimal health or is laying eggs – in which case it is fine to provide more protection and move them inside. Tortoises need a lot of room to roam around so a big garden area is preferable. When housing them outside ensure that you build a safe fenced enclosure that is large enough to accommodate their wandering behavior. The size of this enclosure may need to be increased as it grows in size. Build a few shelters within the enclosure as most tortoises enjoy a space where they can sleep or escape the business of daily life. Some are also diggers so do not place them in an area with a concrete surface. If your enclosure contains a lot of grass be sure to provide them with dryer areas too as too much moisture may cause shell rot. They will also require a shaded area and protection from predators. Some need to hibernate and some burrow so be careful in selecting a tortoise as a pet and do sufficient research to ensure you are able to meet its needs. These pets are also a lifelong commitment as the can live anywhere from fifty to a hundred years.

Feeding your Tortoise

All of us cat lovers out there know that our furry loved one has to always have everything he needs in order to be energetic, lively and happy about his playground. This is up to you to provide for him to be in the best of shapes. And then, having fun together is certain to happen!

What are “must have” items?

As with every little creature that you allow living inside your house, provide shelter and care for it, your cat has some basic needs that you must take care of for him/her to be healthy. Most basic are fresh water and food, but there is also need for a litter and a small napping place. Fresh water and food are really important, so that your furry friend can quench his/her thirst whenever need arises, and also to be able to eat to keep his strength and heath. You don’t want a canary chase throughout the house, do you?

When you want to go that extra mile for your precious pet and the budget is just not playing along – a DIY microwavable heated cushion may be the answer. These easy to make warmers are really useful for adding a little extra heat to a cold day or when your pet has a muscle injury. Laying one of these on the injured spot will help to relax the muscle and alleviate some of the discomfort. Not only can they be used for your pet but you can make one for yourself too.

Making Microwavable Winter Warmers

You can decide on a variety of shapes from squares, tubes or rounds in whatever size is suitable for your purpose. You may want a larger item for a bigger pet or prefer to make several smaller ones in different shapes and sizes to keep him snugly in winter. All you need are some scraps of unused material. If you have old suit shirts, T shirts, denims or unused towels in the back of a cupboard somewhere these will fit the bill or an old pair of socks will do the trick.