The holidays can be stressful on pets. There's lots of family and friends visiting, special decorations and lots and lots of yummy-smelling food.

Here are some important Thanksgiving Safety tips for your pets:

• Make sure the turkey is cooked. Dogs love turkey, and ASPCA experts say a little turkey is good for your pet. However, make sure it is plain, boneless and well-cooked. Also, watch out for fat or gristle.
• Know the foods pets can't have. There are some ingredients you might find in some dishes that are harmful to pets. Watch out for the following:
  • Sage and other herbs
    
  • Chocolate
  • Candy with xylitol (a sugar-free ingredient)
  • Bread dough
  • Batter with raw eggs
  • Onions and garlic
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Raisins and grapes
  • Rich or spicy foods
  • Alcohol
  • Avocado
• Don't overdo it. A little bit of turkey or pumpkin pie is a tasty treat for a dog or a cat, but don't let pets get too many table scraps. Not only could all that rich food upset their tummies, they could get diarrhea. They can also get pancreatitis, which is a condition where the pancreas is inflamed.
• Watch for tails. Many pets want to be where the people are. However, that could mean they are in the way in crowded spaces, and could get stepped on. It's best to keep the pets out of the kitchen or entertaining areas.
• Don't leave pets alone with children. Your Thanksgiving guests may involve children of all ages. Even pets that are great with kids can find themselves overwhelmed. Make sure to keep an eye on kids and pets at all times to ensure the pet is not in distress and the kids are using proper pet etiquette. Also, if you have children over who have never met your pet, you may want to keep the pet in a quiet place, or at the very least make sure to properly introduce the child to the pet.