Thanksgiving Foods To Keep Away From Your Pet?
With the holiday season in full swing, it’s only natural to want to spoil Spot a little more than usual. While Fido would love to join in on your Thanksgiving feast, it’s important to know which foods are toxic to your furry family member. Below, we’ll go over which Thanksgiving foods to keep away from your pet. We’ll also dive into a couple of “people food” options your dog can enjoy so that he can still join in on the fun.
Thanksgiving Foods To Keep Away From Your Pet
Without further ado, here are several foods your pooch CAN’T enjoy this holiday season.
Anything With Added Seasoning and Sugar
Unfortunately, most foods directly off of the dinner table won’t be suitable for your furry friend since they have added seasoning and sugar. Onions, garlic, and chives are toxic to dogs, so Fluffy shouldn’t be enjoying a helping of mashed potatoes. Spot should also avoid sugar; a piece of pumpkin pie is out of the question.
Turkey Meat or Bones
Your pooch should not take part in the Thanksgiving turkey since it is full of seasoning and added fats like butter. In addition, do not give your dog any turkey bones. While this may seem like an intuitive idea, bones that aren’t specially designed for dogs can puncture the skin and be very dangerous. Save the wishbone for the humans.
Stuffing
Stuffing is full of seasonings that are toxic to dogs. While cooked bread in stuffing is technically safe for dogs, it isn’t great for a dog’s tummy. Stay away from carbs of any kind, whether it’s table rolls or Grandma’s famous stuffing.
Anything With Dairy
Small amounts of dairy might be safe for Spot, however, it can lead to gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, and doesn’t add nutritional value. Keep anything containing milk, cheese, or butter to yourself.
Green Bean Casserole
While green beans are generally safe for dogs when raw, unseasoned, or otherwise, your pooch shouldn’t partake in green bean casserole since it’s full of added seasoning and potentially onions which are toxic to your dog.
Nuts
Keep nuts and dishes containing nuts far away from your furry friend. While some raw, unseasoned nuts like peanuts are safe for dogs, other nuts like macadamia nuts are incredibly toxic to dogs.
Corn on the Cob
Dogs can eat cooked, unseasoned corn but stay away from corn on the cob as this could become a choking hazard. In addition, any corn coated in butter is not a good choice for your dog.
Foods You CAN Share With Your Dog
Here are a couple of pup-approved people foods. This way, you can still give your hound a safe holiday treat.
Cooked, Unseasoned Turkey
If you want your dog to partake in a traditional Thanksgiving experience, you can set aside some cooked, unseasoned turkey meat (bones removed) for his enjoyment. Serve in limited quantities to prevent stomach upset.
Sweet Potato
Your pooch can enjoy cooked, unsweetened sweet potato as long as the skin is removed prior to consumption. Make sure that the potato is fully cooked although— raw sweet potato can cause stomach upset.
Pumpkin
Your pooch can enjoy pumpkin puree or fresh pumpkin as long as it does not contain any added sugar or seasoning. Make sure you don’t feed your pooch pumpkin pie filling, as this is likely to cause tummy issues.
Raw Or Cooked Unseasoned Carrots
Your dogs can enjoy a carrot straight out of the fridge or cooked as long as they’re prepared without added seasoning. The same goes for raw or cooked unseasoned green beans.
When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to speak with your veterinarian before introducing a new food into your dog’s diet. Always act on the side of caution when introducing your canine to new foods and start with small portions. Enjoy this holiday season with your furry friends and the people you love most.
