Is Thanksgiving Food Safe for Pets?
It is so easy to want to share some of your delicious dinner with your four-legged family members. But it may be best to not give in to the temptation to dole out a portion to your pet without making sure it’s okay for them first. Some Thanksgiving food is perfectly safe for your pet, but there are some foods that you should avoid at all costs.
Here is the breakdown on how to navigate Thanksgiving dinner with your pets.
Foods That Are Pet Safe
- Lean turkey is a definite, just make sure it has no bones or excessive fat on it.
- Pumpkin has recently been touted as doggy super food; helping them with digestive and urinary health. Make sure you don’t feed them raw pumpkin or pie filling, but fresh or canned pumpkin can be an excellent choice.
- Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrots are also great if you dish them out a portion before you slather on the butter, cream or sugar.
Foods To Avoid
- Green bean casserole and stuffing are definitely a no-go for your pet because they usually have alliums. Things with onion, garlic, and mushrooms in them are all potentially harmful for your dog.
- Anything too spicy or with too much sugar or butter will give them a stomach ache.
- Make sure to avoid any sugar-free treats that are sweetened with Xylitol. This artificial sweetener is fatal to dogs.
- Dough exposes your pets to yeast. As the dough rises the yeast converts the sugars in the dough to carbon dioxide gas and alcohol. This could result in a bloated drunken pet.
- Desserts, especially if they contain raw eggs. They could contain salmonella bacteria and cause food poisoning.
Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips:
One last tip is to make sure to take out the trash as soon as you put any food or bones in it so your dog won’t be tempted to rummage through it looking for a snack. Let guests know the house rules on keeping the door shut and what not to feed your pets.
It’s hard not to say no to those sweet begging eyes when you’re carving the turkey, however, it’s good to keep in mind that their digestive tract can’t handle all the savory ingredients and spices that we add to our foods. In fact, vets tend to see increased office visits for gastrointestinal reasons during this time of year.
For more information on foods that are bad for your pets visit the ASPCA or HSUS!
Nicole founded Miami Pet Concierge in May 2007 with a mission to provide Miami, Florida’s pet parents with personalized pet care plans based on their pets’ species, age, breed, health, and lifestyle – All while keeping their pets “happy at home.” In addition, offering pet care education to all pet owners to help them become great pet parents.
