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Do's and Don'ts for a Tail-Wagging Feast

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year to show appreciation and enjoy a feast with friends and family members, whether they have two legs or four! But before inviting your dogs to join in on the holiday feasting, be sure you know which foods from your delicious meal are safe for your furry friend. 

Many foods served in the traditional Thanksgiving meal can be downright dangerous for dogs. Instead of falling for those puppy-eyes and whimpers from under the table, plan ahead and make a special feast for your fur baby to enjoy on Thanksgiving.

Prepare a Special Feast for Your Pup

The mouth-watering aroma of the turkey from the kitchen can be awfully tempting for your fur baby. The good news is that turkey is safe for your pup - with a few precautions. Remove the skin, as it’s usually seasoned with spices or oils that might not agree with their stomach. Never serve cooked turkey bones to your dog, as they can splinter and pose a choking hazard. And, of course, ensure the turkey is fully cooked, as undercooked meat can cause health issues for both humans and dogs.

Here are some traditional holiday foods that are safe for your pup to snack on, and others that are a big no-no. And remember the best rule of thumb is to serve foods in small quantities to avoid upset tummies.

Not only are these foods safe for your canine friend, but many have great nutritional value:

• Turkey (without the bones) - Excellent source of lean protein. Boneless and skinless white turkey meat is a yummy treat that your dog will adore. Should not be too salty or spicy.

• Sweet potatoes - Steamed or boiled sweet potatoes are great for canine digestive health. They’re rich in fiber, calcium, iron and vitamins C and B6. Prior to mixing those nutrient-rich spuds with butter and brown sugar, feel free to share a few chopped cubes with your furry best friend. 

• Apples - Setting aside apple slices before baking is a great way to spoil a pup. Packed with fiber and antioxidants, apple slices are a safe and healthy treat, filled with vitamins A and potassium. Always be sure to remove any seeds before serving.

• Carrots - This fiber-rich and low-calorie veggie can be served a variety of ways.  Steam or bake them plain to add to their meal or freeze some larger carrots for a crunchy, edible chew toy.

• Green beans - If you plan on making green bean casserole this year, feel free to set aside raw green beans or steam a few for your furry pal. They contain very few calories, are full of iron, calcium, fiber, and folic acid. Many dogs will love the crunch! Remember: onions are toxic for dogs, so don’t scrape those casserole leftovers into their dish. 

• Pumpkin - Sugar-free, canned pumpkin is very good for your dog’s GI tract—in small quantities of course. While making your pumpkin pie, feel free to place a dollop of canned pumpkin (before you've added anything else to it) into your dog’s bowl. For an extra happy camper, try mixing it into their regular food as a dog Thanksgiving treat. Or, if you really want to spoil your pup, make these tasty pumpkin treats.

• Brown rice - Brown rice is an excellent source of fiber, essential amino acids, micronutrients like B vitamins, magnesium and manganese. Plus, it contains high-quality carbohydrates that provide your dog with energy. It’s a safe choice for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities and helps regulate blood sugar. It’s a nice compliment to the lean turkey.

• Cranberries - These are a great low-calorie treat that are high in vitamin C and full of fiber. Cranberries can make a great addition to a homemade dog treat recipe or as a meal topper for added crunch.
• Butternut squash - Squash is another good veggie for canine digestive health, but not when served raw. Be sure to share some squash with your dog after cooking and before adding any seasoning, butter, or cream.

Thanksgiving Foods NOT to Feed Dogs

It’s important to ensure your pup steers clear of all the dangerous foods on the list above and doesn’t pick up any scraps. That means establishing ground rules with your house guests, too, so no one slips the pups table scraps. Here are some of the usual suspects you'll want to avoid giving to your canine companion:

• Mashed potatoes: Often laden with butter and cream, mashed potatoes can cause upset stomach and diarrhea in dogs.

• Stuffing: Stuffing typically contains onions, garlic, salt, and other spices that can be harmful to dogs. Onions and garlic should be avoided at all costs, since both are toxic for pets.

• Bread dough: Unbaked bread dough contains yeast. Yeast can be very dangerous when ingested by dogs because it emits gas as it rises, or in this instance, as it grows in the belly. If ingested by a canine, the yeast will expand in the stomach, causing a multitude of problems, including Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV), commonly known as “bloat.” Bloat is a critically serious condition that requires immediate veterinary medical attention. Less severe complications of consuming bread dough for dogs can be upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea.

• Turkey bones: Dogs love bones, but they don't know about the difference between bones that are safe to chew on and ones that aren’t. Put simply, cooked turkey bones are not digestible and pose a threat to canine digestive health. But perhaps the greatest danger they pose is that they can shatter and puncture the intestinal tract, or get lodged in the esophagus causing choking.

• Corn on the cob: Corn itself is not dangerous for dogs, but the cob can be a serious choking hazard. Even if your dog gets the cob down, it can cause long-term gastrointestinal issues.

• Sweets: Everyone knows that chocolate can be toxic to dogs, but other sweets also pose a risk. Large quantities of sugar, cream, and butter can cause gastrointestinal distress, vomiting, and diarrhea, among other issues. Prepared desserts may also contain an artificial sweetener known as Xylitol, which is highly toxic to dogs and known to require rapid emergency pet care.

To avoid temptation when those adorable puppy-dog eyes are staring you down, consider making a separate meal for your dog to enjoy at the same time your family eats. The results will be fewer emergency room visits, better canine digestive health and a happier dog.

Create a Stress-Free Environment

If your house will be full of family and festivities on Thanksgiving, the hustle and bustle of everyone celebrating may cause stress and anxiety for your pup. Consider creating a safe and quiet escape for your dog. Sights, sounds, and new faces can be overwhelming to your furry friend. And the heightened stress can sometimes cause our canines to chew on things they shouldn’t (like the unattended turkey carcass on the kitchen counter).

To help your dog feel at home and relax while guests are visiting, find a room or large closet away from the noise that can be their private oasis. Put a dog bed, blankets and an item of your clothing there to make them feel comfortable, and make sure they have easy access to food and water. Be sure to check on them frequently.

A Few Extra Safety Tips 

• If you're having guests over, remember to advise them against feeding your dog table scraps—even in small amounts. A small amount from several people can result in a large amount by the end of the day!

• Keep all trash out of your dog’s reach. Ensure that all trash is disposed of in a secure place. It’s easy to leave the trashcan open for a few seconds or place a full trash bag on the ground temporarily, but dogs are fast and sneaky. Remember, it only takes a few seconds for your pup to quickly grab things out of the garbage and make a run for it.

• Turkey fryers are a real danger to our canine friends as they are usually low to the ground, making them easily accessible to dogs. The fryer itself is hot and contains boiling grease and meat remnants, which are highly appealing to pets, who may want to try for a quick lick. The dangers posed here are severe, both internally and externally, so always exercise extreme caution with fryers—and never underestimate your dog's ability to get to what they want! It’s best to keep your furry family members in a secure area where they cannot accidentally access the fryer, even after the turkey has been cooked and removed.

We hope these tips allow your dog to join in the delicious holiday feast while remaining calm and safe on Thanksgiving.

Note: For those dogs with food allergies or other health conditions, please check with your vet first. Remember that any new food might potentially cause digestive issues—introduce it to your dog in small amounts.