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Yesterday I decided to offer Oliver some (cooked) turkey for dinner, rather than his usual, standard food. I gave him mostly dark & light meat, a tiny bit of skin, and a bit of the 'between the skin and meat' fatty parts. His meal totalled approx. 1/2 c., maybe a smidge more. Then later that night (AFTER dinner, of course) I read on the Maltese Mail List I'm on a post saying this person was told by a vet some years ago that you should not feed your Maltese turkey, except maybe a tiny piece as a treat. Apparently it is too rich for their systems. Is anyone else familiar with this? Today Oliver is a bit 'out of it', not quite as spunky as normal and didn't want any breakfast. Now I'm WORRIED! Any advise? If he is having some kind of reaction, what should I offer him as far as food goes? Is it serious enough to call the vet? He doesn't seem actually sick, hasn't vomited, but a bit lethargic. (Of course I am too, after the big feast yesterday...) Thanks for help. -Laurie B.

• I have never heard about not feeding them turkey, but I will never do it again after Thursday. My little Zipper had a bad upset tummy all day Friday and had to take several trips outside as a result. He at about 1/2 c. to 3/4 c. plus a leg bone... poor little baby... we both learned from this mistake!- Marleen

• I have since learned that turkey meat is indeed too rich for their systems; can cause constipation and/or diarrea and even a colitis-like attack with fatal results. A TINY piece of white meat is OK as a rare treat, but absolutely avoid skin, the fatty parts, and the dark meat. -Laurie B.

• NEVER NEVER NEVER feed dogs poultry bones of any kind. They can splinter and choke or puncture the dogs insides, and could even lead to death! Judy Taylor

• Thanksgiving is a time for sharing, but not when it comes to leftovers and your pet! The American Animal Hospital Association urges you not to share your holiday meal leftovers with your pet.Table scraps, including Thanksgiving turkey, are unhealthy for pets. Turkey bones or spoiled meat could be especially dangerous to your pet's health. "Turkey bones, like other bird bones, are hollow and therefore break easily and splinter into sharp pieces," said Dr. Jan Strother, an AAHA veterinarian from Hartselle, Alabama. "Most dogs will not chew the bone thoroughly and sharp pieces can cause blockage and perforate the intestinal tract." A pet who has a turkey bone lodged in his digestive system may not show any symptoms for one to two days, said Dr. Strother. When symptoms do occur they may include loss of appetite, depression, vomiting, or diarrhea. Sometimes the bone will pass by itself; other times it may need to be surgically removed, she said.

  Another common ailment in pets who eat leftover turkey is salmonella food poisoning. Salmonella is an organism that lives in the turkey's intestinal tract. The cooking process usually destroys the organism, making the turkey safe to eat. Occasionally, the center of a turkey may be undercooked, especially if it's large or full of stuffing. If the meat sits out at room temperature for too long, the salmonella organisms can multiply and cause contamination. Pets may become poisoned if they eat any of the turkey that has been sitting out. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, a high temperature, loss of appetite, and listlessness.

  Pets should not be allowed to eat table scraps, even on Thanksgiving. If your pet sneaks some turkey from the table and begins showing signs of the above symptoms, consult your veterinarian.
  M.Michele Dawley,Vet Tech