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Thanksgiving, for most families in the United States, is all about the turkey. Hours go into the roasting and basting of the bird, and once the Thanksgiving feast is over, there are turkey sandwiches, turkey soup, and turkey casseroles to make. With all of that leftover turkey, what about sharing some with our dogs, whether slipped surreptitiously under the table, or on a Thanksgiving “plate” of their own?
But can dogs eat turkey? Is turkey good for dogs? Are any risks to feeding dogs turkey? We’ll walk through everything you need to know about turkey for dogs, from the benefits to the risks.
Can Dogs Eat Turkey Necks Cooked? A Vet’s Guide to the Benefits and Risks
Turkey necks are often discarded after preparing a turkey meal but they can make an excellent treat for your dog. Feeding turkey necks to dogs is somewhat controversial however, since all bones come with some risks. So can dogs eat turkey necks cooked or raw?
The short answer is no – dogs should only eat raw turkey necks, never cooked Cooking turkey necks makes the bones very brittle, causing them to splinter easily into sharp fragments that could seriously injure your dog’s mouth, throat, or digestive tract
While raw turkey necks do come with some risks too, they are generally considered safer if fed appropriately. This article will cover everything you need to know about feeding turkey necks to dogs, including:
- The benefits of turkey necks for dogs
- The potential risks of raw turkey necks
- Which dogs can eat turkey necks
- How to safely feed raw turkey necks
- Why you should never feed cooked turkey necks
Benefits of Raw Turkey Necks for Dogs
There are several benefits raw turkey necks can provide for dogs:
- Excellent source of protein and other nutrients
Turkey necks are packed with protein, providing essential amino acids for building and maintaining muscle. They also contain calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium, B vitamins, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
- Promotes dental health
The act of chewing on raw turkey necks may help scrape away plaque and tartar from your dog’s teeth. This provides a natural way to care for their dental health.
- Provides mental enrichment
Raw turkey necks take dogs time to chew, occupying them for 20-30 minutes. This gives their minds a workout and satisfies their natural instinct to chew.
- Natural source of joint supplements
Turkey necks contain natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin from cartilage and connective tissue. These are compounds often used in joint supplements. While turkey necks provide only minimal quantities, some owners believe it provides benefits for dogs with arthritis. However, there’s no clinical evidence for this currently.
Potential Risks of Feeding Raw Turkey Necks
While raw turkey necks can provide benefits, they do come with the following risks:
- Choking hazard
As turkey necks contain bone, there is a risk of dogs gulping down large pieces and choking. Always supervise your dog when feeding any chew treat like turkey necks.
- Gastrointestinal obstruction or constipation
Raw bones may not be fully digested and can cause an intestinal blockage. Bone fragments can also lead to constipation.
- Bacterial contamination
Raw turkey may contain harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli. Safe handling and cleaning practices are essential.
- Broken teeth
Turkey necks could potentially crack weak or damaged teeth. They are not suitable for dogs with dental issues.
To minimize risks, raw turkey necks should only be fed occasionally and under supervision. They are not appropriate for all dogs.
Which Dogs Can Eat Turkey Necks?
Turkey necks are best suited for medium, large, and giant breed dogs. Small dogs may struggle with their large size.
Puppies should also not be given turkey necks until they have their full set of adult teeth. Avoid feeding elderly dogs with dental issues.
Dogs prone to gulping their food or with gastrointestinal problems are also not good candidates for turkey necks due to obstruction and constipation risks.
How to Safely Feed Your Dog Raw Turkey Necks
If you do choose to feed raw turkey necks, follow these guidelines to reduce risks:
- Wash hands before and after handling raw turkey necks
- Supervise your dog while eating to prevent excessive swallowing of bones
- Feed outside or on an easy-to-clean surface to avoid bacteria spread
- Do not feed raw turkey necks more than 1-2 times per week to avoid gastrointestinal issues
- Introduce slowly to assess tolerability
- Avoid feeding to high-risk dogs as described above
Why You Should Never Feed Your Dog Cooked Turkey Necks
While raw turkey necks can be fed safely with precautions, you should never feed cooked turkey necks to dogs.
Cooking causes the bones to become extremely brittle and prone to splintering. These bone shards can then lodge in your dog’s mouth, throat, or digestive tract, causing significant injuries or even death.
Even slight chewing of cooked bones can cause them to fracture into sharp fragments. Microwaving or boiling turkey necks makes them even more likely to splinter.
The meat on turkey necks will also become tough when cooked. This makes it difficult for dogs to digest.
For these reasons, it is never recommended to feed cooked bones of any kind to dogs. The risks substantially outweigh any potential benefits.
If you do want to make use of turkey necks after cooking your holiday bird, the safest option is to use them for making broth. Be sure to strain out all bones before feeding the broth to your dog or using it in their food.
Alternatives to Turkey Necks for Dogs
If you decide turkey necks are not suitable for your dog, consider these safer alternatives:
- Deer or elk antlers: Provide enriching chewing without risk of splintering
- Bully sticks: Digestible beef chews that satisfy chewing instinct
- Dental chews: Look for VOHC-approved treats to reduce plaque and tartar
- Stuffed Kongs: Provides long-lasting mental stimulation
Talk to your veterinarian if you are looking for the best and safest treat alternatives for your dog. They can recommend options tailored your dog’s needs and preferences.
The Bottom Line
Raw turkey necks can make a tasty, nutritious, and beneficial treat for dogs when fed occasionally. However, they do come with some inherent risks thanks to their bone content. Cooked turkey necks should always be avoided, as cooking makes bones brittle and prone to splintering.
If you do choose to feed raw turkey necks, do so in strict moderation. Follow the feeding guidelines outlined and closely supervise your dog. Certain dogs are not candidates for this treat. Discuss any diet changes, including giving turkey necks, with your veterinarian. They can help you determine if turkey necks are appropriate for your dog.
How to Safely Feed Your Dog Turkey
If you decide to feed your dog turkey, keep these tips in mind.
- Remove turkey skin: Too much fat (from the skin itself, plus whatever butter or oil was used for roasting or frying) and seasonings are dangerous for dogs. High fat content can cause pancreatitis, while all the extra spices and seasonings can irritate your dog’s stomach.
- Only feed your dog turkey meat: Pick through whatever meat portion you’re offering your dog to ensure none of the roasting aromatics are mixed in. Onions are toxic to dogs, and garlic can be toxic in large quantities.
- Feed your dog small portions of turkey meat: Talk to your vet about adding occasional food scraps into your dog’s diet before deciding to feed them turkey, especially if your dog has a preexisting health condition, like diabetes. Keeping portions small, and more like a treat, helps healthy dogs avoid any stomach upset from eating different foods than they’re used to.
- No cooked turkey bones: Make sure whatever portion of turkey you decide to feed your dog contains just meat, and that there are no cooked turkey bones mixed in or still attached.
Can Dogs Eat Turkey?
Whether or not dogs can eat turkey depends on how the turkey is cooked. Turkey is not inherently toxic to dogs. It’s used as an ingredient in many commercial dog foods, and is rich in protein, riboflavin, and phosphorous. When turkey is cooked plain—in other words, without added salt, fat, or seasonings—turkey can be a wholesome part of a homemade dog food diet under the guidance of your veterinarian.
That said, the turkey we eat on Thanksgiving platters is rarely cooked “plain.” We rub our birds with butter or oil, and season them with all sorts of combinations of salt, pepper, herbs, and spices. Many cooks opt to stuff their turkey with onions, garlic, apples, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and more. To people eating the meal, all of these flavors, aromas, and textures can be delicious. For our dogs, some of these seemingly healthy ingredients can actually be toxic (ie, onions). Even if some common Thanksgiving ingredients aren’t exactly toxic to dogs, they can still be a recipe for unpleasant digestive upset or pancreatitis. (And just so there’s no confusion: onions are toxic to dogs.)
Can dogs eat cooked turkey necks?
FAQ
Is it safe for dogs to eat turkey necks?
Can dogs eat cooked neck bones?
What is turkey neck syndrome in dogs?
Are boiled turkey necks healthy?
Can a dog eat raw turkey necks?
If you choose to feed your dog a raw diet, you can give them raw turkey necks. However, if you prefer to feed your dog cooked food, you should fully cook the turkey necks before feeding them to your dog. To cook turkey necks for your dog, you can boil them in water for about 30 minutes or until they are fully cooked.
Can dogs eat turkey necks on Thanksgiving?
To cook turkey necks for your dog, you can boil them in water for about 30 minutes or until they are fully cooked. Make sure to remove any excess fat or skin before feeding them to your dog. Can Dogs Eat People Food, Like Turkey Necks on Thanksgiving?
Can a Yorkie eat turkey necks?
You can give raw, dehydrated or freeze dried turkey necks, chicken necks, chicken feet, etc. to your dog as part of the diet or as snack. I have a Yorkie so he gets chicken necks instead of the turkey necks.
Can dogs eat turkey neck bones?
Turkey necks contain small pieces of bone which are a possible choking hazard in dogs. Though turkey neck bones tend to be softer and crumble when chewed properly, some dogs will gulp them down quickly and have even been known to swallow them whole!