Thanksgiving With Your Pets

With Thanksgiving right around the corner and it being my favorite holiday - mainly for the food, I thought it would be fun to talk about holiday foods we can share with our four legged friends.  

So let's start with the main dish that most of us find at holiday gatherings - Turkey!  For those that wonder if dogs can eat turkey at Thanksgiving, the answer is yes. The main dish is okay to offer as long as it has not been prepared with any seasoning. In addition to avoiding bones as discussed, pet parents should skip out on feeding the skin as well. The outer layer of the poultry is likely to have been prepared with butter, spices, or other fatty ingredients that may cause pancreatitis or other issues for your dog.

Let’s dive into the sides, sweet potatoes are a great addition for your pets diet. They are also a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and beta-carotene. Sweet potato treats can be as simple as a dehydrated sweet potato chew.  My dog Sassy just was given some Sweet Taters and she loved them! As did Regina and Phoebe.  Just remember not to give your pet sweet potatoes containing any added ingredients such as brown sugar or marshmallows.  If your family is like mine and no one can decide on just one type of potato.  Your pup gets to enjoy both kinds of potatoes, and your dog can have that option, too. However, give only boiled or baked potatoes with no butter, sour cream, salt, or pepper, and serve in moderation as they are much more starchy than sweet potatoes.

Just like humans, your dogs will love to have a vegetable with their holiday meal as well.  Peas are a fine choice, but creamed peas should be avoided. Fattier food items like this that may upset your dog’s stomach.  Another great choice are green beans. With ample amounts of plant fiber, manganese, and vitamins C and K, plain green beans are great for dogs. The key here, as with turkey, sweet potatoes and other options mentioned in this list, is the bean dish should be plain — without any added ingredients like butter or spices and that means no green bean casserole for your pet! 

Along with your vegetables your pet will be happy with their serving of fruit as well. Apples are full of vitamins A and C and contain lots of great fiber, making them a healthy Thanksgiving treat for your pet. However, if you’re sharing an apple with your pooch, be sure to cut around the core, as large amounts of apple seeds can be toxic.

What better way to wind up a holiday meal than with dessert.  Pumpkin itself is a very healthy snack. Pumpkin helps with digestive health and it’s great for a dog’s skin and coat. Also, if feeding canned pumpkin, make sure it’s just pumpkin and not the pre-spiced pie mix. Or think out of the box with some frozen yogurt, not ice cream, but freeze yogurt as a nice treat for your pup.  Calcium, protein, and live bacteria in yogurt that can act as probiotics will give your dog a tasty dose of nutrients, and a sweet post-meal treat.

There is also a list of things you should make sure to keep out of your pets reach during holiday dinners.

• Turkey bones, skin, and gravy

• Stuffing

• Casseroles

• Mashed potatoes

• Creamed peas

• Chocolate, cookies, pies, and sweets (especially anything containing xylitol)

• Alcoholic beverages

• Raisins and grapes

• Onions, scallions, and garlic

• Ham

• Yeast dough

• Fatty foods

• Foods containing spices

And for good measure, don’t forget to keep the tempting scent of the trash of the special day’s meal out of reach, since we all know our dogs are super smellers.
So put out an extra place setting at the table this holiday season for your furry family member!