Discussing Thanksgiving Foods, The Impact They Have On Your Pets, And Offering Pet-Safe Thanksgiving Food Alternatives
One of the most popular holidays in November is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday that focuses on the value of family, friends, and food. However, Thanksgiving can be a dangerous time for pets. This is mostly due to table scraps being fed to your pets.
Most Thanksgiving foods contain ingredients that our pets can’t properly digest. This article will go over the various Thanksgiving foods that are unhealthy to pets. We will also offer some alternative Thanksgiving food options for your pets too! This way your furry family members can still take part in the holiday festivities.
A dog eyeing up some turkey
Turkey & Dogs
Dogs are omnivores, meaning they can safely eat both meat and plants. Because of this, dogs can safely eat turkey. However, there are some stipulations. In order for dogs to properly digest turkey, the meat must be fully cooked, skinless, unseasoned, and white meat only.
Additionally, dogs can also safely eat ground turkey. But, ground turkey must also be plain, unseasoned, and contain no additives. If you plan on giving your dog some turkey this Thanksgiving, only do so in small amounts. Also, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian first to ensure that your dog doesn’t have any allergies or stomach issues. For a full ground turkey recipe for dogs, click here
A cat intrigued by a turkey
Turkey & Cats
Cats are carnivores, meaning they can only eat meat-based products. This also means that cats can safely eat turkey. However, similar stipulations apply. When feeding your cat turkey, it should be unseasoned, boneless, skinless, and fully cooked.
Additionally, we recommend cooking the turkey yourself as pre-cooked turkey may contain additives and/or preservatives that are unhealthy for your cat. Always double check the ingredients list before giving your cat any pre-cooked turkey or turkey based cat foods. For more information on what ingredients to look for and avoid in cat food, click here. For a full ground turkey recipe for cats, click here.
Thanksgiving side dishes
Thanksgiving Foods
Other Thanksgiving foods like stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, Brussel sprouts, etc., should not be given to your pets. Most of these dishes contain various seasonings and spices. Both dogs and cats can’t properly digest these seasonings and consuming them can lead to upset stomachs, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal issues. Therefore, we recommend avoiding giving your pets any of these foods at all costs.
That being said, you can still include your pets in the Thanksgiving dinner festivities. Instead of giving your pets table scraps, we suggest making a small, separate Thanksgiving dinner just for them. Rather than cooking a full turkey, use some fresh ground turkey instead. Click on the aforementioned links for some recipes.
Additionally, you can give your dog some baked sweet potatoes instead of mashed potatoes. Be sure not to add any butter or seasonings! Lastly, you can also buy Thanksgiving themed canned food for your dog or cat. These cans of pet food usually contain turkey, a variety of vegetables, and gravy. Click here to check out the Thanksgiving dog food in a can. Click here to check out the Thanksgiving cat food in a can.
Hire A Pet Sitter Or Dog Walker Today!
If you or someone you know is looking for pet sitting or dog walking services, then look no further than Paws & Claws Pet Sitting and Dog Walking! We service the Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara, and West San Jose areas. Click here to contact us or give us a call at 408-752-2997. We hope to hear from you soon and happy Thanksgiving!
