Dogs love Thanksgiving too

Sometimes I think dogs love Thanksgiving just as much as people...maybe more. It's a day they're usually guaranteed not to be alone; it's a day of new smells and sometimes new faces; it's a day of running around, being mischievous, getting underfoot and tripping people up (which I suspect they find amusing); and, oh yes, it's a day of that scrumptious smelling bird and all the yummy trimmings. Dogs love all kinds of Thanksgiving food but sometimes the food doesn't love them back, which brings me to something we should all think about on Thanksgiving. And that is that Thanksgiving can be very dangerous to your pet.

Stuff the turkey, not the dog (or cat, guinea pig, rabbit, whatever the case may be)

Here are a few foods that are not healthy for your pet (copied from a reliable source):

Turkey Skin - High-fat foods, such as turkey skin, can be hazardous to your dog. Since the skin is hard to digest, it can lead to pancreatitis. If you still want to share your bird, give your dog a small piece of white meat.

Turkey Bones - Cooked poultry bones are brittle and splinter easily. If ingested, they can lodge in the esophagus or cause stomach or intestinal irritation.

Grapes and Raisins - These common snacks can induce permanent and life-threatening kidney failure in some dogs. Though some pets seem to handle eating grapes just fine, it's safest to avoid grapes and raisins completely.

Chocolate - Most pet owners are aware of chocolate's danger, but with the recent popularity of dark chocolates -- which contain higher doses of toxic cocoa -- it's more important than ever to be vigilant about chocolate consumption. Ingestion can cause abnormal heartbeats, kidney failure, and death.

Onions - High levels of onion ingestion in dogs and cats can cause life-threatening anemia. Be aware of food at your table -- such as stuffing or casseroles -- that may contain this dangerous ingredient.

Also, beware of feeding your dog too much of anything as excessive consumption can cause bloating and pancreatitis which means an emergency visit to the hospital. :(