Thanksgiving for dogs? Sharing our holiday feast with our furry family members is tempting, but how do you know what Thanksgiving foods dogs can eat and which are bad for dogs? Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby breaks down which Thanksgiving foods are safe to share, and which should be avoided at all costs.
As a veterinarian for 25+ years, I know all too well that Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest times of the year for veterinary emergency hospitals. They are packed with vomiting dogs and guilt-ridden pet parents. Unfortunately, sharing the Thanksgiving feast with four-legged family members is a bad idea.
While some traditional Thanksgiving foods are safe for dogs in small amounts, others can make them sick.
So, before you pass the buttery mashed potatoes to your dog this Thanksgiving, learn which ten foods (when properly prepared) are safe for our canine companions, and which may be potentially life-threatening hazards. Table Of Contents
As Thanksgiving rolls around our homes fill with the smells of roasted turkey mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. It’s such a feast for our senses, and it’s only natural that our furry friends start looking at us with puppy dog eyes begging for a taste. But is turkey stuffing safe for dogs to eat? Let’s dig in and find out.
The Dangers of Stuffing for Dogs
Stuffing is one of the most enticing Thanksgiving foods for dogs with its savory aroma. However both the ingredients and preparation make it a risky choice to share with pets. Here are some of the top dangers
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Onions and garlic – These aromatic vegetables are toxic for dogs Onions contain a compound that can damage red blood cells leading to anemia, while garlic can cause gastroenteritis.
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Herbs and spices – Many seasonings like sage, rosemary, and thyme are used liberally in stuffing recipes. High amounts of these strong herbs can cause stomach upset in dogs.
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Fat content – Stuffing is often loaded with butter, turkey fat and broth, making it high in fat. This can lead to pancreatitis which is extremely painful and potentially fatal.
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Bones – Some cooks add turkey neck, giblets, or other bony pieces to the stuffing. Bones splinter easily and can puncture the stomach, throat or intestines.
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Undercooked ingredients – Stuffing cooked inside the turkey may not reach a high enough temperature to kill bacteria like salmonella. This can cause food poisoning in dogs if consumed.
It’s clear stuffing can spell trouble for doggy digestive systems. But what if your pup managed to scarf down stuffing before you could stop them?
What to Do If Your Dog Eats Stuffing
If you notice your sneaky pup snagging a mouthful of stuffing, take action right away. According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, you should:
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Check for signs of illness – Look for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite or abdominal pain. Call your vet if you notice any of these.
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Prevent further consumption – Keep all leftover stuffing well out of your dog’s reach. Dogs are opportunistic eaters and will gobble up any stuffing left unattended.
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Monitor closely – For at least the next 48 hours, keep an eye out for symptoms of gastrointestinal distress or toxicity. Call your vet at the first sign of trouble.
Don’t panic if your dog stole a bite of stuffing. Just a small amount likely won’t harm them. However, never purposefully let your dog eat stuffing since the risks outweigh any possible benefits.
Safer Thanksgiving Treats for Dogs
While stuffing should stay off limits, don’t worry – there are plenty of dog-friendly Thanksgiving treats to share instead. Here are some safer options:
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Plain turkey meat (no bones, skin or fat)
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Sweet potatoes (minus butter, sugar or spices)
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Plain pumpkin (canned or cooked, not pie filling)
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Green beans
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Carrots
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Plain rolls (no onion, garlic or seasoned butter)
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Plain rice
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Plain popcorn (no butter)
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Unsweetened applesauce
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Plain yogurt
When in doubt, stick to bland, low-fat, low-sodium foods. It’s also a good idea to keep treats limited to 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake to prevent weight gain. Ask your vet for portion recommendations tailored to your pup.
Make Your Own Dog-Friendly Stuffing
If you really want to share the stuffing experience with your dog, why not whip up a special batch just for them? Here’s a simple recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups brown rice
- 1 cup shredded carrot
- 1 cup green beans, chopped
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Instructions:
- Cook rice according to package directions. Set aside.
- Lightly steam carrots and green beans until just tender. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together rice, carrots, beans, pumpkin, and seasonings.
- Slowly add chicken broth until stuffing reaches desired consistency.
- Let cool completely before serving to your pup.
This doggie stuffing uses minimal seasonings for sensitive tummies. Leaving out onion, garlic and butter reduces the fat content. And opting for rice over bread prevents choking hazards. Feel free to tailor ingredients to your dog’s liking!
Give Thanks and Give Safely
Thanksgiving is a time for counting blessings – and our pets rank high on that list! While you indulge in holiday feasting, be sure to also look out for your dog’s welfare. With a little care and planning, you can safely share the holiday spirit with your furry best friend. Just steer clear of that tempting turkey stuffing!
Cooked, white potatoes
Mashed potatoes are one of my favorite Thanksgiving sides. Although delicious, the added butter, cream, and gravy are not good for dogs. Fortunately, plain, cooked white potatoes are fine to share! Before mashing and mixing potatoes to place on the Thanksgiving table, I set aside some small pieces of plain boiled potatoes for my dogs.
Just like for people, raw potatoes are not safe for dogs. Consuming raw potatoes can cause GI distress.
When cooked, white potatoes are a wonderful source of vitamins and minerals (vitamin C, vitamin B6, iron, and magnesium) that are important for your dog’s nervous and immune system.
Although some dogs may not enjoy the tart taste, plain cranberries are safe to offer. Cranberries can be fed raw, cooked, or dried. Eating too many cranberries may upset your dog’s stomach, though, so offer just a few.
If you choose to feed your dog cranberries, ensure that you are only sharing plain cranberries. Cranberry sauces and canned cranberries are often mixed with sugar, alcohol, raisins, and artificial flavorings that can be toxic and dangerous for your dog.
Along with green beans, canned pumpkin for dogs is another one of my go-to healthy treats. Canned pumpkin is flavorful, full of vitamins and minerals, and high in fiber and water. It has many benefits for dogs, and can even be used in a bland diet for dogs who are sick.
When feeding your dog pumpkin, there are a few important points to remember:
- Canned pumpkin is not the same thing as pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling contains added sugar, spices, and artificial sweeteners that are dangerous for dogs. Similarly, you should not feed your dog actual bites of pumpkin pie either. (The good news? This means more pie for you!)
- Feed cooked or canned pumpkin in moderation. While pumpkin is one of my favorite 14 vegetables dogs can eat, too much can cause your dog to have diarrhea.
Carrots are one of the best Thanksgiving snacks. They are very healthy for dogs, and also very tasty! These crunchy treats are a great source of potassium, vitamin B6, and beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a compound that produces Vitamin A, which is important for the immune system and your dog’s vision.
With all these good nutrients, you can safely serve carrots to your dog on Thanksgiving whether the carrots are cooked, steamed, or raw. Just leave out any butter, brown sugar, or other seasonings.
Plain green beans (cooked or raw)
If you want to include your dog in your Thanksgiving celebrations, sharing some plain green beans is one of my favorite ways to do so! I love giving dogs green beans for many reasons. Green beans are:
- Simple, easy to prepare
- Great source of vitamins A, C, and K
- Contain important minerals like iron and calcium
- High in fiber
- Low in calories
Green beans are a healthy snack for your dog that you can give any day of the year. In fact, I often recommend them to my clients who ask how to help a dog lose weight, especially when their furry friend always seems hungry. Green beans are filling but low in calories—also making them a great snack for diabetic dogs.
When feeding green beans, they can be canned, frozen, fresh, cooked, or raw. The most important part to remember is that green beans cannot be seasoned. When shopping for canned green beans for your dog, it is important to select ones that are labeled “low sodium” or “salt free.”
Please note that I said it’s ok to give you dog green beans, and not green bean casserole. (I’ll explain more about green bean casserole later in this article.)
When prepared properly and served in moderation, sweet potatoes are another dog-friendly Thanksgiving vegetable. However, many Thanksgiving sweet potato recipes are loaded with butter, marshmallows, and brown sugar. This amount of sugar would upset your dog’s stomach.
If you’d like to serve your dog sweet potatoes, follow these tips:
- Chop sweet potatoes into small bites so they are easy for your dog to swallow.
- Cook or bake sweet potatoes to make them easier for your dog to chew.
- Do not add any extra “flavor” such as brown sugar, butter, or marshmallows. Even without the extra sugar on top, sweet potatoes are still very rich and should be fed in moderation.
If you buy canned sweet potatoes instead of fresh (I’ll never tell!), keep in mind that many canned yams are packaged in syrup. To share these with your pup, make sure they are thoroughly rinsed first.
Can My Dog Show – Can My Dog Eat Thanksgiving Dinner… Can My dog eat Turkey, Stuffing & More?
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