The joyous Thanksgiving season is upon us, and most pet owners would put their dog at the top of their list of things to be grateful for. So, it’s only natural to want to offer your dog some of the delicious treats that are around during this season. However, in order to provide a genuinely secure Turkey day dinner for dogs, you must have a dog-friendly Thanksgiving cuisine plan and understand some of the hazards associated with this holiday occasion.

What Should I Feed My Dog on Thanksgiving?

The good news is that there are several delectable and dog-safe Thanksgiving meals to enjoy! Many of the standard meals, when cooked correctly, may be offered to your dog. Because the typical human Thanksgiving dinner often contains extra salt and sugar, it’s best to prepare a dog-specific Thanksgiving dinner to share with your pet.  Here are some foods that can be given to your furry friend!

BAKED SWEET POTATOES

The Thanksgiving table always has a place reserved for sweet potatoes, but the standard holiday meal that’s mashed with butter and salt or toasted marshmallows isn’t good for your dog because there’s too much added sugar and salt. Fido can, however, have a part in the carb-heavy pleasure!

Sweet potatoes are a completely safe vegetable for dogs, and they also contain various vitamins and minerals that will benefit your pet. It’s critical that you only give your dog fully cooked potatoes, since raw potatoes might be harmful to your pet. You can prick a sweet potato and place it in the microwave for several minutes to make it soft. Remove as much flesh as possible from the peel and cool it before serving.

GREEN BEANS

Green bean casserole is a popular Thanksgiving side dish in the United States, but such dishes frequently include less healthy ingredients like cornflakes or condensed soup. Avoid feeding this dish right away from the Thanksgiving table to your dog. For a dog-friendly Thanksgiving dinner, steam some fresh green beans or warm up some no-sodium canned green beans instead.

You may be surprised to learn that these low-calorie, fiber-rich veggies are extremely good for your dog’s health. Just ensure they’re thoroughly cooked and chopped into bite-size pieces before giving them to your dog so he can eat them safely.

TURKEY MEAT

A slice of turkey is a must-have dish for any safe Thanksgiving dinner for dogs. You may also serve your dog turkey slices if you bring out the big dish of meat for human consumption – just make sure there aren’t any bones and it hasn’t been seasoned. Because most seasonings and salt are concentrated in the turkey skin, most veterinarians advise removing your dog’s turkey serving from the entire skin. There’s no need to prepare a distinct meal for your pet in this situation; simply be cautious about what you serve on the plate.

Traditional Thanksgiving Recipes That Aren’t Safe For Dogs

While it’s wonderful to share food with your pet during the holidays, dog owners must be cautious about the numerous foods on the Thanksgiving table that aren’t suitable for their pets. These include:

• Grapes and raisins
• Stuffings and casseroles or other prepared dishes
• Onions, garlic, and scallions
• Fatty and salty foods
• Chocolate or other desserts, especially those that are artificially sweetened

Make sure everyone understands the rules about what foods your pet should not eat if you have visitors for Thanksgiving or go to someone else’s house for a meal with your dog. As an alternative, ask people not to give human food to your dog and cook your dog’s Thanksgiving dinner all by yourself.

GRAPES AND RAISINS ARE TOXIC FOR DOGS

Grapes are highly harmful to your dog’s health since they can induce acute kidney failure. Grapes may be found in a pre-dinner charcuterie board or used in salads and other dishes at Thanksgiving, so ensure that your pet is closely watched while grapes are served as snacks. Raisins (which are simply dried grapes, frequently sugar-coated) are a common component of Thanksgiving salads, fillings, and other dishes. These should also be avoided.

UNSAFE INGREDIENTS ARE PROBABLY IN STUFFINGS AND CASSEROLES

Stuffing and casseroles, on the other hand, are frequently prepared with a long list of ingredients that may include anything from one (if not many) items that are hazardous for dogs. They’re also frequently high in fat, salt, and maybe sugar. While one bite of a dense, unhealthy food might not seem to be a significant health concern for your pet, providing them with things like this on a daily basis can cause them to gain weight or raise their blood sugar levels, which can lead to future medical problems. It’s safer to make a low-calorie meal for your dog than to risk feeding them high-fat, high-sodium food that they shouldn’t eat.

ONIONS, GARLIC, AND SCALLIONS

Onions, garlic, and scallions are commonly used in Thanksgiving dishes, from the turkey to the gravy to the dressing. The allium family includes chives, leeks, and shallots. All alliums are harmful to dogs and can result in anemia.

Because of the popularity of these meals in American cuisine, you must be extra careful that your pet does not consume them. While it’s unlikely someone would offer a garlic clove or chew on a raw shallot, it’s far more likely that your dog will get a taste of food prepared with these ingredients.

FOODS HIGH IN FAT AND SALT

Because it’s a holiday for indulging, Thanksgiving has a lot of fatty and salty foods on the menu. This is great for folks, especially during the holiday season, but adding more fat and salt to your dog’s diet is not required and doesn’t help their health. Because they have a different biology than humans, dogs process extra fat and salt differently. Furthermore, your dog will enjoy a plain, unsalted baked sweet potato bite just as much as a buttery, salted one. The additional fat and salt don’t improve their pleasure or health, so skip them from the canine menu.

CHOCOLATE AND ARTIFICIALLY SWEETENED DESSERTS

At dessert time, dog owners must be more cautious than normal to ensure their pet does not get any chocolate desserts or human sweets. Dog foods should not include processed sugar. Almost all Thanksgiving goodies are high in sugar, so they should be avoided by dogs.

Avoid baked goods that are sugar-free or diabetic, as well as other sweetened foods. Xylitol, a popular sugar substitute, has been found to be deadly to dogs. For dessert, stick to dog-specific goodies at your Thanksgiving dinner for dogs.

Keep Your Pet Safe and Healthy This Holiday

You can safeguard your pet’s health and pleasure by having a few recipes and dog-friendly Thanksgiving foods on hand, as well as knowing exactly what your dog shouldn’t eat on this day. If your dog needs a little extra help, CBD for pets is a wonderful health resource to include into the menu of the exciting foods you’ll be preparing for him on Thanksgiving. However, if you decide to have your dog participate in the holiday celebration, he or she will undoubtedly appreciate it. Click here for more on CBD for cats and human CBD vs CBD for dogs.