Your Guide to a Doggone Good Thanksgiving
Turkey and Rolls and Gravy, Oh my!
On major holidays, there seems to be an increase in the number of upset stomachs and sick pups coming to the vet. We’re not here just to tell you what NOT to do, but share with you all the things you CAN and should give you pet this holiday season. This year you’ll be in the know and have your own feast ready and prepared for your furry friend!
It’s all in the food prep…
There are lots of goodies that can be given to your dog on Thanksgiving, but the key to many of these feast-friendly foods is the lack of seasoning, butter, sugar, etc. So it’s all in the prep! When you are preparing all your delicious foods for the big day, start setting aside scraps and tasty morsels along the way to serve to your special guy or girl. Rather than serving the end product (which is dressed in all sorts of goodness) we want you to focus on giving your pets the unadulterated ingredients.
TURKEY - We are so excited to announce that, yes indeed, you can feed your dog turkey! The caveat of course is that the turkey has been untouched by seasonings and butter. This does make it a bit trickier than some of the other approved foods, but perhaps for Fido you’ll dig a bit deeper and get them a piece that may have been untouched during the cooking process.
SWEET POTATO - Yum, yum, yum. Sweet potato can be an excellent food full of vitamins for your dog to enjoy. So when you are putting together that sweet potato casserole or pie, set aside some cooked (or uncooked) portions for doggie consumption.
APPLES - We know an apple pie is probably going to make it onto your Thanksgiving table, so why not set aside some apple or feed on site. There are no rules you can’t start eating early!
PUMPKIN - Pumpkin puree is an awesome treat for your dog. Often fed to dogs on a regular basis for gut health, it’s a no brainer treat to give out on this indulgent day. Just remember, only the puree can be fed, not the canned pie mix version.
GREEN BEANS - Green bean casserole anyone?! Not for this dog! Just the green beans please.
CRICKETS - 😆 Did you do a double take?! Yes, crickets! While I don’t think you’ll probably be cooking with these, NeoBites, has a delicious sustainable dog treat made with cricket protein for your doggo to enjoy. No prep needed!
TURKEY BONES & SKIN - Cooked bones can be very dangerous for dogs to chew on, as cooked bones splinter very easily and become a choking hazard. In addition, the skin on the turkey has likely been basted in butter, oil, and/or seasonings and is naturally a very fatty piece of food.
PIE - Pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, pecan pie. All delicious, all sugar and spice.
MASHED POTATOES & GRAVY - Not the best options for your furry friend. Loaded with butter, salt, and other undesirable ingredients, these are best left to the humans in moderation.
STUFFING & CASSEROLES - These dishes have so many ingredients and tasty ad-ins that its difficult to control what is and isn’t okay for your dog to enjoy in them. Best to avoid!
GARLIC & ONION - Two of my favorite ingredients in savory dishes, unfortunately these are toxic to dogs and can have serious side effects. Garlic is said to have up to 5x the toxicity compared to other Allium plants (onion, shallot, leek, chives).
CHOCOLATE - While chocolate desserts are less common on the Thanksgiving table, it certainly can make an appearance. Remember that chocolate is never a good thing for dogs to consume, make sure it’s up out of reach.
It’s not just about the food!
Just as we could benefit from a little more activity on and around Thanksgiving, so can your dog. Take a little time during the day to go out and enjoy the weather, get some steps in, and enjoy some one-on-one time with your dog before all the guests arrive. Depending on your role for the day, you may be out of pocket for your dog’s usual cuddle time and they will need this extra time with you.
Oh no! 😬 What if you have to leave for several hours to enjoy a feast elsewhere. No judgement, sometimes that’s the best course of action depending on your dog’s personality, likes/dislikes with crowds and the overly generous feeding hands of your friends & family members. I know I’ve never been successful at keeping ALL partygoers from feeding my dogs when I’m not looking.
Even more reason to get in that quality time with your number one pup!
References
Kearl M. Safe Thanksgiving Foods to Share With Your Dog or Avoid. American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/thanksgiving-foods-to-share-with-your-dog-or-avoid/. Published November 1, 2021. Accessed November 18, 2021.
AKC Staff. People Food Dogs Can Eat and Can’t Eat. American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/human-foods-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/. Published April 24, 2020. Accessed November 18, 2021.
Lee JA. 6 Thanksgiving Treats You Can Share with Your Pets! Pet Health Network. https://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-diet-nutrition/6-thanksgiving-treats-you-can-share-your-pets. Published October 5, 2020. Accessed November 18, 2021.