You wake up early to prep the turkey and get in the oven while the kids stumble out of bed to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade on the sofa. The dogs are barking as family and friends begin to arrive and fill the room with joyous chatter. And the air is filled with fragrance from the feast that is before us. And today is the day that you throw your diet out the window to indulge until the food coma kicks in.
The table is set with every possible attachment to ensure that everyone can sit together. The dogs have found their place under the table while Uncle Joey shares his latest joke that interrupts the clanking of forks on empty plates with laughter. And Dad sneaks some scraps in the dog’s bowl.
It sounds like the perfect Thanksgiving celebration, right? And it was until the dogs got sick.
Our dogs are family, and we want them to feel included, but giving in to those begging puppy eyes can send your pooch to the hospital. So, to avoid a sick pup this holiday, here are some things to avoid.
The main dish, Turkey
Small pieces of white meat with no bones and skin can be okay for your dog. But be mindful of what you are feeding them; turkey is often cooked with oil or butter, which can cause an upset stomach or inflammation of the pancreas. And resist the urge to let them eat off the bone; if digested, it can be problematic for their digestive tract, which can require surgery.
Turkey’s best friend, Stuffing
Leave the stuffing leftovers for your human guests only. While bread isn’t especially harmful, the other ingredients like onions, garlic, and grapes are incredibly toxic to dogs and cats, leading to anemia. If your pup gets his paws on a handful, be aware that it can take a few days for symptoms to kick in.
Sweet Potatoes VS. Mashed Potatoes
While your dog can eat both sweet potatoes and regular potatoes, it’s best to give them plain potatoes. To make these dishes more appetizing to the human palate ingredients like butter, milk, sour cream, sugar and, marshmallows are often added to make our taste buds jump. But for our four-legged pets, these ingredients can lead to a very upset stomach, diarrhea, or worse pancreatitis.
What’s for dessert? Pumpkin Pie
You ditched the diet today, so feel free to indulge, but don’t share this one with the dogs. While pumpkin itself is suitable for dogs, pies have added sugars or, worse, sugar substitutes that contain xylitol, which is extremely toxic for dogs.
So, if you don’t want your pooch to be left out this Thanksgiving, prepare a side dish of unseasoned white meat turkey, sans the fatty skins and bones. A side of unseasoned potatoes, plain green beans, and a scoop of canned pumpkin, and you have a meal that is fit for the king.
Skip the fats, butter, milk, sugar, seasons, and your pup’s stomach will thank you.
From the Hilarious Hound family to yours, have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!