What Not to Do With All Those Leftovers
Advice from Animal Expert Dr. Grey Stafford
 Thanksgiving Day at Wildlife World Zoo usually includes a few extra holiday treats for some of the zoo’s 2400 plus animals. But, before you think the keepers drop off leftover turkey or a slice of pumpkin pie, let me clarify what a holiday treat at a zoo looks like. In any given week, there may be two to three dozen different perishable food items that we feed to our collection based upon the needs of each species. This doesn’t even include a variety of dry foods or specialty items for some of our more unusual creatures. So, in a real sense, every day seems like a holiday given the size of the buffet our keepers set. That said, this Thanksgiving I'm sure the keepers will be offering an extra helping of meal worms, boiled eggs, squash, crickets, seed mix, apples, meat and so on, depending on the critter! Who knows, maybe some of the bigger animals will even get a whole pumpkin to kick around.
As far as the leftovers in your own home are concerned, be careful offering them to your pets. Certain items like chocolate are toxic in large enough doses. Still other foods like ham have much more fat and salt than most pets eat in a normal day. The extra fat from human foods may upset their digestive tract causing diarrhea or vomiting. This is especially true for animals that only eat pet food and rarely get table scraps. Salty foods may cause them to drink more water than usual, which may also contribute to a gassy, bloated tummy.
Even giving your pet bones is not a good idea. Fragile bones from turkey or chicken can splinter and cause injury to the gut. Yet, even thicker hollow bones from beef or ham can fracture and get stuck in a dog’s intestine. In some cases surgery may be required to save an animal with a blocked or perforated bowel.
So if you are planning to share some holiday leftovers with your four legged family members, do so in extreme moderation. Skip the bones, fat, salt, and sweets. Your pets will still appreciate a few small pieces of white meat or a light drizzle of gravy on their normal food.
As for those of you who eat too much, try walking it off at the zoo. We’re open every holiday.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
~Dr. Grey
Learn more about Dr. Grey Stafford
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