Talkin’ Turkey: Giving your pets a little nibble of turkey is okay, just be sure that it’s boneless and fully cooked. Raw or undercooked turkey may contain salmonella bacteria, and dogs can choke on bones, which splinter easily.

A Feast Fit for a Kong: While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Stuff their usual dinner—with a few added bits of turkey, dribbles of gravy or vegetables like sweet potato and green beans—inside a Kong toy. They’ll be happily occupied trying to get their meal out, and way too busy to come begging for table scraps.

Sage Advice: This peppery herb makes stuffing taste delish, but sage also contains essential oils and resins that can cause pets to suffer stomach upset and possible depression of the central nervous system.

Battery Power: The holiday season means lots of cameras, radios and other battery-operated electronics. Please don’t leave batteries lying around. If swallowed, they can cause choking or obstruction; if punctured, the chemicals in alkaline batteries can cause

Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I was wondering—is it safe to give dogs some of the foods we eat at our traditional meal?
—Lisa

There is certainly nothing better than family, friends and lots of good food during the holidays. So why wouldn't we want to share that with our furry family members, too?

As long as your dogs do not have any dietary restrictions or a history of gastrointestinal problems, offering a few small boneless pieces of thoroughly cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie should not pose a problem for them. Just don't allow them to overindulge, or your dogs could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea, or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis.

Just be sure to avoid giving potentially poisonous items such as garlic, onions or chocolate, as well as goodies sweetened with xylitol, which could lead to a sudden drop in blood sugar, causing seizures and even liver failure in some cases.

I hope that you and your dogs have a very happy Thanksgiving!