Our pets are like our family: they live with us, they give us unconditional love, and yes, they even eat with us on occasion. Stay safe this Thanksgiving with this dog-friendly human food cheat sheet!
We've always treated our pets like family, but we admittedly need them now more than ever. From being your loyal work-from-home buddy to your companion at holiday meals, our pets are an essential part of our everyday lives. So, it's no surprise that we sneak a wee bit of human food to our begging pooch once in a while. (Don't worry, we all do it!)
As Thanksgiving Day rolls around, we can't wait to get our hands on that incredible Thanksgiving feast. To keep the Thanksgiving spirit of sharing in mind, here are five Thanksgiving foods you can share with Fido.
1. Turkey Meat
No Thanksgiving meal is complete without turkey. Whether you like your turkey plain roasted or covered with bacon, be sure to only share plainly cooked Thanksgiving turkey with your pooch — Just white meat with no turkey bones, no turkey skin, and free of seasonings and other fatty ingredients. Fatty foods are no bueno for Fido and can cause pancreatitis, among other issues.
2. Green Beans
A popular veggie side dish at Thanksgiving dinner is green beans. They are safe for your pooch to eat, as long as they carry the same rules as the turkey — Plain and free of butter and oils (fat), salt, and other seasonings. Green beans are even recommended as a treat and good for Fido's digestive tract.
3. Sweet Potatoes
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Another veggie that's often found on the dining table at Thanksgiving, you can feel free to share some sweet potatoes with your pooch. In fact, sweet potato is a common ingredient found in most dog foods. Just make sure that the sweet potatoes are plainly cooked and not sitting with marshmallows or any sweeteners like xylitol, which is poisonous and potentially toxic for dogs.
By the same token, potatoes are also fine as long as they are plainly cooked, like simply boiled or baked. Avoid mashed potatoes, as they usually contain large amounts of butter and fat contents.
4. Pumpkin
While pumpkin itself is great for dogs and super healthy for the digestive tract and Fido's skin and coat, pumpkin pie, on the other hand, is not. The popular must-have Thanksgiving dessert contains large amounts of butter, sugar, and often other ingredients that are a big no-no for dogs.
5. Bread
Yes, this side "filler" dish is absolutely safe for dogs to eat as long as it's fed in moderation and cooked thoroughly. Uncooked yeast dough can result in low blood sugar, bloating, and even alcohol poisoning in Fido.
Be sure to stick to these human foods during the holiday season. Your Thanksgiving dog will thank you!
Have you shared Thanksgiving foods with your dog before? Tell us on the Wide Open Pets Facebook page!
This article was previously posted on November 24, 2020.
