Dogs love the taste of turkey and the smell of everything else on Thanksgiving Day, too! Unfortunately, some foods are safe for people but can harm dogs.
Here is a list of safe Thanksgiving foods for dogs so they can enjoy Thanksgiving Day along with you!
Thanksgiving Foods Safe for Dogs
1. Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are great Thanksgiving foods that are safe for dogs to share with your pup!
They’re rich in beta-carotene, which helps keep their skin and coat healthy and shiny, and they contain plenty of vitamin A to help maintain healthy eyesight.
One cup of sweet potato has about 200 calories, which can be helpful for dogs who need to lose weight or have diabetes.
Sweet potatoes also have natural sugars like glucose that help regulate blood sugar levels in dogs with diabetes or hypoglycemia.
The fleshy inside part of the sweet potato is called the pulp, which contains most of the nutrients and fiber from these tasty Thanksgiving foods safe for dogs.
The skin on these tubers is not edible, so remove them before giving them to your pup!
2. Potatoes
Potatoes are great Thanksgiving foods that are safe for dogs but also good for Fido. Ensure they’re cooked and mashed well so no big chunks could pose a choking hazard.
Pumpkin puree can be great for dogs, too. Just mix it with some other vegetable or meat to give it the right consistency and avoid an upset stomach.
If you want to add some turkey as well, feel free to do so, but don’t give them raw meat because it could cause food poisoning in your pup if not handled properly.
If your furry best friend loves carrots like humans, why not give him some on Thanksgiving?
3. Apples
Apples are not only delicious to humans, but they’re also delicious to dogs! You may have seen the video of the Golden Retriever with an apple stuck in his mouth, and it’s adorable, but it gets better.
Apple seeds contain cyanide, which is poisonous to humans, but dogs can consume them without problems because their livers remove the substance before it enters the bloodstream.
Plus, apples provide fiber and vitamins A and C, keeping your pup healthy all year.
4. Turkey Meat
While some people may be tempted to give their pets leftover turkey meat (no bones, no skin), it’s not a good idea.
Turkey meat contains bones and skin, which can cause choking or intestinal blockages in dogs. Plus, it doesn’t taste very good to them anyway!
5. Green Beans
Green beans, or string beans, are one of the Thanksgiving foods that are safe for dogs and can be cooked in many different ways.
For example, boil green beans with ham or bacon, sauté them with garlic and onions, or roast them with thyme and salt. They make a delicious side dish to any meal!
6. Plain Peas
Your pup will love the taste and texture of a plate of plain peas, which offer antioxidants, protein, and fiber to keep him healthy and happy during the holiday season. It’s one of the Thanksgiving foods safe for dogs.
7. Pumpkin
Pumpkins are one Thanksgiving food safe for dogs to eat. Several ways to serve it up include pumpkin pie and pureed pumpkin with other mixed veggies.
Pumpkin also has great health benefits and can help promote healthy hair, skin, and digestive health.
There’s no reason not to share these delicious Thanksgiving foods safe for dogs with your furry friends on holiday.
Pumpkin Spice Latte (nine sentences) Another Thanksgiving dish safe for dogs is the Pumpkin Spice Latte – aka PSL for short.
PSLs can be made at home or ordered from coffee shops like Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts, but either way, they’re sure to get you into the holiday spirit!
8. Dessert
If you’re looking to give your pup some dessert Thanksgiving foods safe for dogs, here are seven sweet treats he’ll love without any harmful ingredients: 1) Pumpkin Cheesecake – This homemade recipe from Averie Cooks is the perfect holiday indulgence for those with a sweet tooth and furry friends.
It’s made with whole wheat crust, pumpkin puree, natural sugar substitute, eggs, cream cheese, and whipped topping (or heavy cream). 2) Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce – The slow cooker makes it easy to prepare this wholesome dish with fresh cranberries and applesauce with cinnamon and orange zest.
Set it up in the morning before heading out to work or school, and let it cook while you’re gone all day.
Unsafe Thanksgiving Foods for Dogs
To keep your pup safe, some Thanksgiving foods should not be given to them. For example, pumpkin pie filling contains sugar and salt, which can harm their health over time.
Also, the sugar in sweet potatoes can cause pancreatitis if eaten in large quantities over time.
Finally, cranberries contain high acidity levels, which can lead to ulcers or kidney stones in dogs predisposing to those conditions. Make sure not to feed them any of these potentially unsafe Thanksgiving foods!
1. Turkey Bones, Skin, and Gravy
Turkey bones, skin, and gravy are safe to eat but may be unsafe thanksgiving foods for smaller dogs.
If your furry friend has never had turkey, getting used to the taste may take some time.
The main concern with these foods is the bone since they can splinter and cause choking or intestinal obstruction if swallowed whole or in large pieces.
Be sure to remove any leftover bones before giving them to your dog, and watch closely in case he swallishes one whole or ingests small pieces whole when chewing on the skin or gravy (turkey skin).
2. Stuffing
The vast majority of unsafe Thanksgiving foods for dogs to eat, with the possible exception being cranberry sauce.
However, a few may be okay if thoroughly cooked and cooled to room temperature before serving them to your pup. One thing we know for sure: stuffing isn’t safe at all!
It’s best to avoid it altogether, but we would like to provide this list in case you’re feeling extra generous this year and want to share it with Fido.
These other Thanksgiving dishes can be served in small quantities without any problems.
2. Casseroles
Since we’re talking about casseroles, these unsafe thanksgiving foods for dogs should be avoided: macaroni and cheese (with milk), mashed potatoes, stuffing with milk or butter, green beans with bacon, gravy from meat drippings, cranberry sauce (with sugar).
4. Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are unsafe thanksgiving foods for dogs. It has too much salt and oil. If mashed potatoes have gravy on top, it could also cause stomach upset to the dog.
If there is any cranberry sauce within reach, keep an eye on the dog while they eat it because cranberries can make some dogs vomit or have diarrhea depending on how sensitive they are to them.
As with anything, moderation is key, and when in doubt, contact your vet first before feeding them anything new from the table this Thanksgiving.
5. Creamed Peas
Dogs should not eat creamed peas or any other creamy or mashed vegetables because they may be unable to digest the food properly and could end up choking on it.
Other than this, many Thanksgiving vegetables are safe for dogs to eat so long as they’re given in moderation.
6. Alcoholic Beverages
The following unsafe thanksgiving foods for dogs: Alcoholic beverages: Alcohol, even in small amounts, can damage a dog’s body and lead to organ failure.
Beer, wine, and champagne have the same effect on canines as humans; alcohol consumption can lead to vomiting and central nervous system depression.
7. Fatty Foods Not Good for Dogs
Many unsafe thanksgiving foods for dogs, including fatty foods: turkey skin, gravy, mashed potatoes with butter or cream, stuffing with butter or cream, and ham.
Fatty foods can cause pancreatitis in dogs and result in other health complications such as stomach problems and seizures.
