Keystone Animal Hospital

Information may not be reliable

Keystone Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinary medical facility, located in Oxford, PA. The professional and courteous staff at Keystone Animal Hospital seeks to provide the best possible medical care, surgical care and dental care for their highly-valued patients. We are committed to promoting responsible pet ownership, preventative health care and health-related educational opportunities for our clients. Keystone Animal Hospital strives to offer excellence in veterinary care to Oxford, PA and surrounding areas. Please take a moment to contact us today, to learn more about our veterinary practice and to find our more information about how Keystone Animal Hospital can serve the needs of you and your cherished pet. At Keystone Animal Hospital, it is our mission to provide the finest quality of health care to your pets. We feel that preventative care is extremely important and will help your pets enjoy longer and better lives. We understand that your pet is a valued family member and our entire staff will provide compassionate, capable care that we would expect for our own pets. Please direct any questions you may have to our experienced staff, were here to serve you in contributing toward a lifetime of total pet health care.

Thanksgiving Hazards and Dangers for Pets
How to Avoid a Sick, Injured Dog or Cat on the Thanksgiving Holiday

Thanksgiving Dinner for Pets? Only in Moderation! - Thanksgiving Day is a holiday that can pose many dangers to

cats, dogs and other pets. Take precautions to avoid holiday hazards to pets on Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Day is a joyous and relaxing holiday for most humans, but for pets, Thanksgiving can pose some very

real dangers. Holiday hazards are everywhere during Thanksgiving and many of those hazards will remain in place

throughout the holiday season.
So to avoid a pet injury or illness on Thanksgiving, consider the following tips, designed to help pet owners reduce

Tip 1: Keep Bones Out of a Dog or Cat's ReachThanksgiving dinner will create a lot of rubbish in the form of bones from the turkey. These bones can be very

tempting to a cat or dog, and it's not uncommon for a pet to raid the trash can when no one's looking to snag a

leftover bone. And with the Thanksgiving guests present, a pet owner may not realize that their dog has wandered off

to eat a potentially deadly snack. A dog or cat who eats a bone can suffer an intestinal obstruction, punctures and

tears to the intestinal tract and potentially deadly internal bleeding. To avoid this danger, keep all bones in a

sealed plastic container. Then, dispose of the bones in a sealed outdoor trashcan. If a dog or cat can access

outdoor trash cans, instead place the container with the bones in the freezer and place the bones curbside on trash

Tip 2: Keep Dogs and Cats Out of the Kitchen on Thanksgiving DayThanksgiving Day can be hectic for the cook and it's not uncommon for family members and friends to join in the meal

preparation effort. This can make the kitchen crowded and busy on Thanksgiving Day. Adding a pet to the equation can

be a recipe for disaster.
A cat or dog could easily get under foot while busy cooks are bustling about on Thanksgiving Day. This could cause a

cook to trip and fall over a dog or cat, and if the person is carrying a food item - especially a hot food item -

this could lead to burns or cuts from broken glass. The person may also fall and land on the cat or dog, causing

broken bones and internal injuries to the pet. So to avoid injuries to a pet on Thanksgiving, keep cats and dogs out

Tip 3: Confine Cats and Dogs When Thanksgiving Guests ArriveSome dogs and cats are very social, while others don't appreciate visits to the home from strangers. Many cats and

dogs find Thanksgiving Day guests overwhelming and frightening. Combine this fright with a guest's attempt to pet

the nervous cat or dog and this is a recipe for a dog bite, cat bite or cat scratch. Children who are visiting the

home on Thanksgiving Day may also pose a danger to cats, dogs and other pets. A child who is not accustomed to

handling a cat or dog may act inappropriately, injuring the pet, while the child's parent is off tending to

Thanksgiving Dinner or socializing. The child may also inadvertently provoke the dog or cat, leading to a dog bite

or other unfortunate situation.
So to avoid injury to the pet and to guests, supervise all interactions with the household pets. When this is not

possible, it's best to confine the cat or dog to a kennel or spare bedroom on Thanksgiving Day.

Tip 4: Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs and CatsMany dog and cat owners feel the urge to share their delicious Thanksgiving meal with pets. And this is usually

permissible, but in moderation. Most of the foods served at Thanksgiving dinner are safe for pets, though pet owners

should always double-check a list of toxic food items just to make sure. Fat trimmings and very fatty foods should

always be avoided as this can trigger pancreatitis in dogs and cats.
The key to giving a bit of Thanksgiving dinner to the dog or cat is to give just a bit - moderation. Large amounts

of unfamiliar foods will cause nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea in pets. Instead, offer a small amount of turkey and

stuffing with the cat or dog's normal dog or cat food. If a pet owner feels tempted to give their dog or cat a large

amount of Thanksgiving dinner, resist the urge and hold some of the food aside for the following day's meal. The dog

or cat can then enjoy Thanksgiving foods over the course of two or three meals, instead of just one, since the cat

or dog's Thanksgiving dinner will be presented in a way that his body can tolerate.

Tip 5: Keep the Emergency Vet and Pet Poison Control Numbers HandyThe holiday season is a common time for illness and injuries in pets. Always keep the number and address of the

nearest 24-hour veterinary clinic handy, along with the number to the ASPCA's Pet Poison Control Center