It’s officially turkey season! One of America’s most beloved holidays, Thanksgiving, is quickly approaching, and with it comes harmful foods for dogs. But while Thanksgiving can be one of the most loving holidays, it can also be one of the most dangerous holidays for dogs. Many Thanksgiving foods carry harmful toxins for dogs, which many dog owners may be unaware of. But that doesn’t mean that there there aren’t Thanksgiving foods that dogs can safely enjoy. To make them feel included in your celebration, here are 5 Thanksgiving treats you can share with your dog!
Turkey Breast
A few small, boneless, well-cooked pieces of turkey breast can be a great treat for your dog during the Thanksgiving holiday. While it may seem obvious that dogs can have turkey, since it is commonly assumed that dogs can have any type of meat, you should be careful about the type of turkey you give them. Leftover pieces of turkey, such as bones, trimmings, skin, etc., can overstimulate and inflame the pancreas – potentially resulting in life-threatening pancreatitis. Leftover turkey bones can also be difficult for dogs to break down when chewing, potentially resulting in sharp pieces that can pierce their esophagus and cause gastrointestinal upset. The most important to remember is making sure that the strings used to cook the turkey do not get accidentally fed to your dog. If accidentally ingested, the string can wrap around a number of organs and cause numerous problems for dogs.
Vegetables
It’s easy to assume that all vegetables are good for dogs because we’re told that vegetables are healthy and a good source of nutrients. But, that doesn’t mean it’s the same for dogs. Most vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, green beans, and sweet potatoes are great for dogs. The issue with vegetables on Thanksgiving is that they typically come with sauce or garnish that can be harmful to dogs. So if you are feeding your dog sweet potatoes, double check that there are no marshmallows or gravy on them!
Cheese
Serving a cheese plate at your Thanksgiving? To most people’s surprise, dogs can actually have small amounts of cheese. While most dogs are lactose intolerant, the lactose contained in cheeses such as parmesan is far less than milk.
Salmon
While salmon isn’t a classic Thanksgiving dish, people often like to have smoked salmon as an appetizer. If that is the case then you can safely feed your dog some as well. Salmon is a highly nutritious food for dogs, so if you aren’t planning on serving it but want your dog to feel included in the Thanksgiving celebration, you can give them some salmon.
Turkey Stuffing
While turkey stuffing may seem the furthest away from safe snacks for dogs on Thanksgiving, it actually can be completely fine in small quantities. The breadcrumbs and savory meat flavor is a huge hit for dogs and while it may contain some fat, it should be fine as a small treat. But remember to make sure that there are no raisins or currants in the stuffing, or else it can result in acute kidney injury when ingested.
So, this Thanksgiving, show thanks to your furry friend by sharing small, safe treats from your Thanksgiving dinner!
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