Thanksgiving Food For Dogs

Tuesday, November 26, 2019 10:29:00 AM America/Los_Angeles
Thanksgiving is only a few days away! Whether you're hosting dinner, or you'll be taking leftovers back home, there's no reason why your dog can't indulge in the holiday with you! There are plenty of traditional Thanksgiving foods that are healthy for your best friend! I've laid out a list of the ones to stay away from, as well as the ones that you can stuff in a doggie bag :)

Thanksgiving Day Foods That Are DANGEROUS For Dogs:

1. Turkey Skin

The skin of turkey can contain marinade, spices, and oils that can be difficult for your dog to digest. The high fat content in turkey skin can be quite dangerous to your dog's health. 

2. Cooked Bones

Everyone knows chicken bones are bad for dogs. It's important to keep in mind, especially around the holidays, that turkey and ham bones are also dangerous for dogs. Just like chicken bones, they can splinter inside a dog's digestive track.

3. Onions & Garlic

The sulfides in onions & garlic are toxic to dogs- both raw and cooked.

4. Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a spice that can cause seizures and central nervous system problems in dogs. Around the holidays, nutmeg can be found in many pumpkin and sweet potato dishes. It's good to keep in mind that pumpkin and sweet potato are both very good for your dog, but not if they're cooked in spices... nutmeg in particular.

5. Nuts

Walnuts and macadamia nuts specifically are extremely toxic to dogs.

6. Sage

This herb should be left out of a dog's diet. It can cause quite an upset stomach in dogs. Thanksgiving is a time for ingesting, not standing outside watching Fido digesting all day.

7. Gravy

The salt content in gravy is far too high for your dog. Additionally, gravy granules or powder are made for human consumption only and nearly always contain onion powder.  

Safe Human Food for Dogs on Thanksgiving:

1. Turkey

Cooked turkey is rich in nutrients like protein, riboflavin, and phosphorous. However, you must take care that the scraps you give out do not have any skin/seasoning or bones.

However, you may want to limit the bits of Turkey you give to your dog. Too much turkey can cause your dog to have diarrhea, which isn't fun for anyone! If your dog does have too much turkey, it's convenient to have an indoor potty solution tucked away in another room where your dog can go to the bathroom in an emergency. 

2. Cranberries

Cranberries are an excellent source of vitamins A, B1, B2, and C. They are also rich in antioxidants. Though your dog may not particularly enjoy the bitter taste of cranberries, give it a try as they are perfectly healthy in small doses.

3. Sweet Potatoes/Yams

Sweet potatoes are great for digestive health because they’re high in dietary fiber. They’re also low in fat and contain vitamin B6, vitamin C, and manganese. Let them fully indulge in the power and deliciousness of sweet potatoes! Just be sure they are plain and don't have any added spices, like Nutmeg.

4. Pumpkin

Cooked pumpkin can be great for both diarrhea and constipation. Canned pumpkin (not raw, and not the sugary, spicy pie filling) is loaded with fiber and a great source of nutrients for pups.

5. Plain Mashed Potatoes

Feel free to mix some mashed potatoes in with your dog's food. Just be sure there is not already butter, sour cream, or gravy mixed in.

6. Veggies!

Asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, green beans, and peas all make great Thanksgiving food for dogs. However, be sure to only feed your dog these veggies if they are plain. At Thanksgiving time, a lot of these veggies will be prepared as savory dishes with various spices mixed in that can be harmful to your best friend.

One last note! If you plan on sharing your Thanksgiving meal with your pup, be sure to keep in mind that it may change up their normal potty schedule. In order to make sure they don't have any accidents while you're entertaining or at a guest's house, we recommend keeping an indoor potty solution handy. We love Bark Potty because it's made from real bark which has the smells that compel your pup to "go." We also like it more than pee pads because you neutralizes odors naturally and you can't see the pee spots!

 

Keep this article handy this holiday so you can keep your pup safe & healthy- they'll be especially thankful.