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Thanksgiving means a hearty feast for most families. And since we consider our pets to be part of the family, they should feast, too. Right?

Well, actually, a little taste of the traditional foods on most Thanksgiving tables is fine for pets. But there are a few things to be aware of to keep your critters safe and happy this Thursday.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, overindulging in rich foods can cause pancreatitis, a painful illness that can lead to chronic digestive problems.

My pets' vet, Christa Clarke of Pet Health Clinic in Daleville, said you should particularly avoid giving pets any pork products because pork is more likely to overstimulate the pancreas.

Sage is a key ingredient in stuffing, which at my house is more important than the turkey. But sage contains essential oils and resins that, when consumed in large quantities, can cause pets a tummy ache or depress their central nervous system. Cats are particularly vulnerable to this, so I count my blessing that my cats have never liked people food.

Too much of any food can cause excess gas, which can lead to bloat, a potentially life-threatening condition in dogs. Keep your dog away from bread dough in particular. According to the ASPCA, the heat in a dog's stomach can make dough rise, resulting in vomiting or bloat. So don't turn your pooch into a proofer!

Chocolate can be toxic to pooches and brittle bird bones pose a risk of choking or tearing the intestines.

Any of these problems can cause a scary -- not to mention expensive -- trip to the emergency vet hospital.

Okay, you get it. Don't give in to those pleading puppy-dog eyes and hand over the table scraps. Much easier said than done, I know.

Do I practice what I preach? Of course not. I slip a little white turkey meat or pie crust to my dogs every holiday. But all things in moderation is a good rule to follow for pets and people, too.

I call our puppy, Stormy, my little sous chef because he hangs out in the kitchen while I cook, hoping a tasty morsel will find its way to his mouth. Thursday will be no exception.

Keep an eye on your critters when they are in the kitchen. Clarke told me that she saw an X-ray while in veterinary school at Virginia Tech of the esophagus of a dog that swallowed a carving knife on Thanksgiving.

"He just leaped up and got it before they even realized it," she said.

She was told the dog was fine after surgery, she said.

The ASPCA suggests that when dinnertime rolls around, stuff a little pet-friendly food into a Kong toy for your dog. Your pooch will be too occupied prying the treat out of the toy to bother you while you dine, they say. Clearly the good folks at the ASPCA have never met my pack of beggars, all of whom can clear a Kong in minutes and have stations near the dinner table where they wait for their share of the good stuff.

Clarke also suggested that dinner guests use restraint before indulging the host's pet with a nibble from their plates.

"People want their pets to be part of the holiday," she said. "But you should ask first before feeding them."

Once the meal is over and the dishes are cleared, tie up the garbage and keep it far out of your dog's reach. Snooping snouts can smell the yummy right through the heaviest plastic bags. And even the most well-behaved pooch may not be able to resist the temptation to tear open the Hefty and dive right in, thinking surely you must have made a mistake to dispose of such delightful snacks.

Then you have a potentially sick dog and a mess to clean.

Remember, even more than food, pets crave attention and affection. Treat them to lots of praise and love and they will have a happy holiday no matter what's for dinner.

Feeding hungry pets

While some of us will worry that our pets will eat too much this holiday season, some families find it difficult to find enough food for their pets.

The Roanoke Valley SPCA has partnered with the Local Office on Aging and Manna Ministries to provide pet food for the Meals on Wheels program and the Carpenter's Foundation food pantry.

Carolyn Schwanhausser, director of development for the RVSPCA, said it will take 40,000 pounds of pet food to meet the need in the Roanoke Valley in 2009.

Without help, Schwanhausser said many families would be forced to share their own food with their pets or make heartbreaking decisions.

While taking an inventory at Manna Ministries, Schwanhausser said one client expressed her gratitude for the program.

"She told me, 'If you didn't provide this food for me to feed my pets, I would have had to take them to the pound.'"

Donations can be made all year long at the RVSPCA office at 1340 Baldwin Avenue in Roanoke or at the customer service counter at Ukrop's on Franklin Road.

Schwanhausser said the most urgent need now is for dry cat food.