PET PRECAUTIONS FOR THE THANKSGIVING FEAST.

With Thanksgiving (and Christmas) commonly including travel plans and family gatherings, dangers become more widespread for pets. For pet parents participating in the holiday festivities, doctors from the Veterinary Emergency & Referral Group (VERG), Brooklyn, N.Y., urge them to keep in mind the following safety tips:

* Advise guests not to feed pets food scraps during meals, especially if your pet has food allergies or restrictions.

* Do not give pets leftover bones, which can splinter and perforate the intestines or cause choking.

* Avoid feeding pets fatty foods, as they can cause pancreatitis.

* Keep pets away from foods containing artificial sweeteners, which can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, liver failure, or even death.

* Raw ingredients--including dough or batter containing eggs, dairy, or yeast--can be dangerous.

* Make sure your pet's travel crate and identification tag have updated and...