Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate with family and friends, and enjoy the holiday feast. Some of these festive dishes, however, can pose health hazards for our four-legged friends. LA Animal Services is offering tips to help keep your pets safe this Thanksgiving holiday:

• Keep your Thanksgiving feast away from pets. Even if we don’t mean to, curious dogs and cats can still sneak a bite of the Thanksgiving feast from the kitchen counter, the trash, or the dining room table. This can result in very serious (and sometimes fatal) consequences from turkey bones, too much rich and fatty foods (that are hard for pets to digest), and just plain overeating.
   
• Keep alcoholic beverages and wine glasses away from pet’s reach. Alcohol can cause your pet’s blood sugar and blood pressure to drop dangerously.
   
• No sweets for your sweeties. Chocolate can be toxic to pets, while pies and candies may contain the artificial sweetener xylitol, commonly used in gum and sugar-free baked goods, which can be deadly if consumed by dogs or cats.
   
• Treat your pet with a special treat. If you want to share a Thanksgiving treat with your pet, make or buy a special treat that is made just for them.
   
• Quick action can save lives. If you believe your pet has eaten something they shouldn’t have or has been exposed to any hazardous substances, call your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 immediately.
   
• Ensure your pet is licensed and microchipped with up-to-date contact information. If for any reason your pet becomes lost, ensuring they are wearing a collar, with a current LA City dog license and/or ID tag on them and a microchip that’s registered with your most up-to-date contact information, will help reunite you with your companion.

For more information on LA Animal Services, and tips on how to keep your pets safe, visit laanimalservices.com.