5 Thanksgiving foods that are safe for our pups to enjoy and 2 to avoid
When it comes to Thanksgiving, food plays a major part in our celebrations of the holiday. And with a dog in the house, you may be tempted to share a scrap or two with them.
But, considering what typically makes it to a Thanksgiving dinner table (or the dessert round), there are actually a lot of foods that are just not safe for our pups to feast on. Luckily for us, the people at Wag! have come up with a list of foods that are safe for our pups to enjoy, while also giving us a reminder of what not to give them.
And while some of these foods you may already know about, it never hurts to get a reminder as we head into the thick of cooking and prepping for the holiday.
Thanksgiving foods that we can feed our dogs and two to avoid
White Meat Turkey – DO
The main event of most Thanksgiving dinners is the turkey. And it’s hard to deny that there are scraps a-plenty when it comes to carving the bird. But even if there are a ton of scraps that would otherwise end up in the trash, make sure you are sticking with the white meat for your pup’s treat.
Dark Meat Turkey – DON’T
Obviously, the flip side of this is the dark meat. And while it might be delicious and juicy for us, it is definitely a no for our dogs. Dark meat is typically high in fat content and that will leave your dog sick and miserable. And a sick dog is not the way you want to end your holiday. Also no turkey skin!
Green beans, carrots, and peas – DO
If your dinner includes sides of green beans, carrots, or peas, then your pup is in luck. Of course, it does depend on how you are serving these veggies. If they are heavily seasoned or include onions, then they are a no. But if you just steam your vegetables and let your guests doctor them up the way they like, then these are dog safe options.
Pumpkin – DO
Do you have unsweetened pumpkin puree left over from baking up a pumpkin pie? Then this is a treat that our pups can enjoy. In fact, pumpkin is pretty good for our dogs and their digestion. So, this is a win-win for offering up a treat to the pups.
Cranberry Sauce – DON’T
While cranberries are actually a dog safe treat, the cranberry sauce that is typically served at Thanksgiving dinner is definitely not. In fact, there is so much sugar in cranberry sauce (whether it is homemade or not), that your pup would definitely find themselves getting sick.
Sweet Potatoes – DO
While you would think with the word sweet in the name that sweet potatoes would be a no, these are actually a delicious treat for our pups to enjoy. And as long as you aren’t doctoring these up with butter or sweet seasonings, then these are a great option for giving your pup a holiday treat.
Apples – DO
If you happen to have apple slices as part of your after dinner treat, then your pup is in luck. Apples are a great treat for dogs. And if you are feeling especially festive, you can always break out the peanut butter (as long as it does not contain xylitol) and add a little more flavor to this dog-friendly treat.
Next. Your pup can get into the holiday season with this Baby Yoda pajama. dark
Obviously there is nothing that says that you have to give your dog anything off of the Thanksgiving table. And for many of us, we don’t want to encourage begging or bad behavior. But at the holidays, a little spoiling happens. Just remember to be careful with any human treats you decide to give your dog.