Did you know that one of the busiest days of the year for a veterinarian is Black Friday? The day after Thanksgiving many pets across the nation find themselves sick to their stomachs, weak, in pain or worse from feasting on human food the day before.
Most of the time, sharing human food with your pet comes from a place of love. Your pet sits there begging as the whole family feasts, and you decide you’ll let them have a treat. It’s Thanksgiving after all! While this is a sweet sentiment, this often will take a turn for the worse if you don’t think seriously about the food you’re feeding to your pup. Here are some foods to avoid sharing with your dog this Thanksgiving.
Bones are a BIG no-no. The number one thing you need to know this Thanksgiving: do not give your dog the turkey bones. Dogs are known for loving bones, so it makes sense that we would want to give our pups turkey bones at thanksgiving. However, giving your dog turkey bones is extremely dangerous and should never be done. Cooked turkey bones, as well as all cooked bones, can easily crack or splinter in your dog’s mouth or stomach. This could cause serious damage to your dog’s health and potentially be life-threatening. So as contradictory as it may seem, do not give the dog the bone.
No chocolate, cookies, or casserole. You probably know chocolate is not good for dogs, but no chocolate-free cookies? No casserole? Yep, that’s right. Cookies and casserole could all be harmful to dogs because of the added ingredients that may be processed. In addition, artificial sweeteners are not good for dogs, so don’t give any treats, desserts or candy, as much as they may beg.
As a rule, no seasonings. Even if you think a certain food is safe for your pet, we often forget about all the extra seasonings that went on the food. Seasonings could upset your dog’s stomach or digestion. So think about what you put on the green beans, turkey and potatoes before giving your dog a serving.
So, no bones, desserts, casserole or anything with seasoning? What can I give my dog for Thanksgiving?
Thankfully, there are some healthy, safe Thanksgiving foods you can share with your dog in very small portions this holiday:
Turkey is a go! Plain turkey, without seasonings, skin or bones, is safe and delicious for your dog to consume. Just be careful in ensuring there are no small pieces of skin or bones left before feeding it to your pup.
Potatoes, sweet or not. Both regular potatoes and sweet potatoes are safe for your dog to eat, as long as they’re plain. I don’t know about you but I love to add all kinds of butter, seasoning and extra ingredients to my potatoes! Unfortunately, with all these additives, potatoes won’t be good to give to your dog, so set aside a small bite for your dog before you bake the potatoes into a casserole or add butter! Plain sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber for your dog, as long as it’s on its own!
Green beans are grand. Not only are green beans delicious, but they are also a great source of fiber and are safe for dogs. The key here is the same as all the other foods—no spices, seasonings or added ingredients. Plain green beans are the way to go for your pup!
Pumpkin is perfect. Plain pumpkin, without seasonings or spices, is a healthy and delicious treat for your dog to enjoy this Thanksgiving. If it’s given correctly, pumpkin can help your pup’s digestive health!
This Thanksgiving, the priority of all pet parents should be the safety of our furbabies. And if that means setting a rule that you can’t feed the dog, then that’s what you have to do! But if you do want to let your dog join in on the festivities, there are ways for it to be done safely. If you have any questions about specific foods, contact your vet, and, when in doubt, err on the side of caution. Here at Pets a Go Go, we want all pet families to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! If you would like to chat with us about how to celebrate Thanksgiving safely with your furbaby, contact us at thepawsquad@petsagogo.com or call one of our locations.
