Thanksgiving Foods You Can (and Can’t) Give Your Dog
We’ve all done it.
You’re sitting at the table, surrounded by family and friends, digging into the turkey, stuffing, King’s Hawaiian dinner rolls, and everything else. It’s Thanksgiving! You’re supposed to pig out! By then you feel that wet nose. The snout resting on your leg. The dog is under the table, and they’re really, really hoping that you’d be so kind as to slip them some turkey. Or sweet potatoes. Or pie. Anything!
With the house full of such sweet smells, who can blame them? They’re likely stuck eating kibble while the humans are feasting?! It can be hard to deal with. So, they want to get in on it too. And many of us indulge them. Just a bit. Hand over a little bit of turkey, maybe.
We all know we shouldn’t be feeding our dogs or pets table food. It’s a bad idea. But is it the worst thing in the world? On a holiday. No, but there are some things you should know about what you should—or can—give your dogs off of the Thanksgiving table. And that really applies to all holidays, too. Because there are foods that are absolutely not safe for dogs to have, while others are relatively benign.
Here’s a rundown:
Okay, Give ‘Em a Taste
These are the foods that you can give to your dog, in small amounts, so long as they’re prepared for them in a way that they won’t be dangerous.
Turkey (Meat Only!)
Yes, you can give your dog some turkey meat. But the caveat is that you’re ensuring that you aren’t giving them meat that’s loaded with seasonings or dressings, or that they’re getting a bone, too—that’s a huge choking hazard. You’ll also want to avoid giving them turkey with skin still attached, because the skin is pretty fatty and absorbs a lot of seasonings, oils, and butter.
Potatoes
Your family might have different types of potatoes—mashed and sweet potatoes, for example—and as long as the potatoes are not slathered in butter or sour cream, they should be okay for dogs. Again, in moderation.
Squash
If your family makes pumpkin or squash, your dog can certainly take part. Pumpkin is actually healthy for dogs, so long as it’s not in a pie. That is: Don’t give them pumpkin pie!
Other Fruits and Veggies
Dogs can also have other fruits and vegetables that might grace your table, such as peas or green beans. But again, make sure they’re not seasoned or buttered or anything like that.
Absolutely Not!
As for the stuff you should avoid sneaking to your dog? It should be common sense, but the list will include turkey bones, gravy, stuffing, casserole, creamed vegetables, anything loaded with butter or spices, foods that are very fatty, onions, grapes or raisins, pie, and other sweets. Basically, if you need to think twice about whether YOU should eat it? You probably shouldn’t give it to your dog.
Again, and as always, it’s best to avoid giving your dog table food altogether. But if you simply can’t look away from those sad puppy eyes looking at you from under the table cloth, a small bite of turkey meat or a bit of sweet potato should hold them over.
And if your pet needs a holiday check-up, make sure to give us a call!
Contact us to make an appointment today!
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