The holiday season is upon us, and so are the beautiful sites, scrumptious smells and yummy food that comes with it. Don’t want your pet to miss out on all the fun this Thanksgiving holiday? Believe it or not, there are a few items in a traditional Thanksgiving meal that are perfectly safe and healthy for your pet to eat.
The key to safely sharing Thanksgiving with your pet is moderation. Avoid trips to the vet office by only giving them small portions, and consider mixing it in with their regular food to help with digestion also. Especially if they are not used to ingesting human food very often, fill under half of their bowl with Thanksgiving fixings.
A Pet Parent’s Guide to Thanksgiving Dinner
Turkey
What’s Thanksgiving without some turkey? Your pet will love enjoying some with you! It is safe to give your dog or cat a few pieces of shredded boneless and skinless turkey, ideally from the middle of the turkey breast.
Avoid: Turkey with skin, seasonings, gravy or brine, uncooked turkey and turkey bones. High fat and salt intake are not healthy for your pet, and poultry bones splinter when bitten into, which can injure your pet’s mouth or digestive tract.
Sweet Potato
Another classic Thanksgiving dish is sweet potatoes. You can give your pet some freshly cooked and mashed sweet potato as a nice little side.
Avoid: Sweet potato with marshmallow, cream, onion or garlic.
Veggies
Steamed vegetables like green beans or broccoli are okay to give your pet, and so are raw vegetables like carrots.
Avoid: Vegetables with any seasoning or salt, keeping in mind that high salt intake is not healthy for your furry friends. Also avoid adding any nut toppings, especially walnuts or macadamia nuts.
Apples
Raw apples can be a nice treat to give your pet, if you have a couple uncooked ones to share while you are making an apple pie or dish for your family.
Avoid: Apples with skin and the seeds still inside. Remove the skin and the seeds of the apple before feeding it to your pet.
Pumpkin
Believe it or not, pumpkin is actually considered a superfood for dogs! High in fiber, vitamins and minerals, pumpkin can be a very healthy Thanksgiving treat for your pup. You can give them pumpkin puree, or check out our post on PSL-inspired homemade dog treats for a little something special.
Avoid: Pumpkin with sugary topping or cream. Sweets are too rich for our pets and will hurt their tummies.
Thanksgiving Foods You Should Not Share With Your Pet
Always be mindful of the different types of food items that are hazardous to your pet.
They include:
- Onions
- Garlic
- Nuts
- Alcohol
- Butters/oils
- Chocolate and any sweets (cookies, cake, pie)
It’s always a good idea to double-check with your vet if you are ever unsure about what to feed your pet, especially if your animal has any kind of special diet restriction. We hope you are able to share many memories with your pet this Thanksgiving as you both enjoy delicious food together!