Which Thanksgiving Foods Can I Give My Dog? And Which Should I Avoid? By Mary Kearl | Updated: Nov 13, 2023 Photo credit to www.zoetispetcare.com
Thanksgiving tends to coincide with an uptick in vet visits, due to dogs being fed unsafe human foods. Turkey meat, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin are all safe, healthy foods to share with your dog. Bones, sweets, alcohol, and fatty foods are all things that should be avoided by dogs. W hile many of us already know we’re going to overeat on Thanksgiving, we still need to apply some restraint when it comes to sharing Thanksgiving foods with our dogs. It’s not just the obvious cautions—like splintering roasted turkey bones or toxic onion-filled stuffing—that are unsafe choices for your dogs. There are fatty dishes, salty dishes, or anything made with raisins, grapes, or other known dog toxins to keep off your best friend’s dish. That said, the Thanksgiving table can have some healthy options
for you to share with your dog, if you choose to. Plenty of fall favorites can be tasty (and safe) options in small portions during holiday festivities. Safe Thanksgiving Foods to Feed Dogs Every Thanksgiving Day table is a little bit different, but there are some foods that make an appearance on just about every table, and many of those tables might have a hopeful dog snoozing underneath, waiting for a stray bite of people food. The experts consulted were: Dr. Gary Richter, MS, DVM, author of The Ultimate Pet Health Guide: Breakthrough Nutrition and Integrative Care for Dogs and Cats; Dr. Sara Ochoa, DVM, a small animal and exotic veterinarian in Texas; and Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary officer for the American Kennel Club, emergency and critical care veterinarian, and a valued member of the Chicago
veterinary community for over 35 years.
“Sweet potatoes are a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and beta-carotene,” says Dr. Richter. “Sweet potato treats can be as simple as a dehydrated sweet potato chew.” Plain mashed sweet potatoes are an option you might find at the table. Just remember not to give your pet sweet potatoes loaded up with added ingredients like brown sugar, marshmallows, or maple syrup. Potatoes. You may already know your dog loves the occasional french fry. For the holiday meal, opt to share boiled or baked potatoes with your dog. Save the mashed potatoes whipped with butter and cream (and sometimes onions or garlic) for your own plate. “Apples are full of vitamins A and C and contain lots of great fiber, making them a healthy Thanksgiving treat for
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