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Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips for Dogs: Keep Your Pup Safe and Happy
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and delicious food—but not everything on the table is safe for your furry family member. While it's tempting to share your feast with your dog, certain holiday foods can pose serious health risks. Here’s a guide to keeping your dog safe while still letting them enjoy the holiday with you.
1. Toxic Foods to Avoid
Some Thanksgiving staples are dangerous for dogs. Keep these foods out of reach:
- Turkey Bones: Cooked bones can splinter and cause choking, blockages, or internal damage.
- Turkey Skin & Fat Trimmings: High-fat foods like skin and trimmings can cause pancreatitis in dogs.
- Stuffing & Gravy: Stuffing often contains toxic ingredients like onions and garlic. Gravy is too fatty for your dog’s stomach.
- Onions & Garlic: Both are harmful to dogs and can lead to anemia by damaging their red blood cells.
- Mashed Potatoes with Add-ins: Mashed potatoes loaded with butter, cream, or garlic aren’t safe for dogs. Stick to plain, boiled potatoes.
- Chocolate Desserts: Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Even small amounts can lead to serious health problems.
- Pies with Nutmeg: Nutmeg can cause seizures and other neurological issues in dogs. Avoid giving them any pie that contains it.
- Nuts (especially Macadamia): Macadamia nuts are highly toxic, causing weakness and tremors. Other nuts can be high in fat, which may cause upset stomachs or pancreatitis.
- Alcohol: Even small amounts of alcohol are dangerous for dogs, leading to drops in blood sugar, respiratory failure, or worse.
2. Dog-Friendly Thanksgiving Foods
If you want your dog to join the holiday feast, stick to these safe, dog-friendly options:
- Plain Turkey: Skinless, boneless, unseasoned turkey (fully cooked) is safe for dogs in small amounts.
- Plain Vegetables: Steamed or boiled vegetables like carrots, green beans, and sweet potatoes are great treats.
- Plain Pumpkin: Pure pumpkin is a great, dog-safe snack that aids digestion, but make sure it’s not the spiced pie filling.
- Apple Slices: Plain, peeled apple slices (without the seeds or core) are a safe, crunchy treat.
- Plain Rice or Quinoa: Simple grains like rice or quinoa are safe if they aren’t seasoned or mixed with rich ingredients.
3. Avoid Overfeeding
- Stick to Small Portions: Even safe foods should be given in moderation to avoid stomach upset, vomiting, or diarrhea. Too much rich food can lead to pancreatitis, which can be very serious.
- No Table Scraps: Rather than sharing scraps from your plate, set aside a small portion of dog-safe food for your pup.
4. Keep Trash Secure
Thanksgiving leftovers can be just as dangerous as the meal itself:
- Prevent Garbage Raids: Dogs are often tempted by the delicious smells coming from the trash, so be sure to keep your garbage securely covered and out of reach. Leftover bones, food wrappers, and greasy pans can all pose hazards.
5. Watch for Counter Surfing
With all the holiday activity, dogs may take advantage of food left unattended:
- Keep Food Out of Reach: Dogs may jump up to snag something off the counter, so make sure all food is kept well out of their reach, especially while cooking or setting the table.
6. Signs of Trouble: When to Call the Vet
If your dog accidentally eats something they shouldn’t, watch for the following signs:
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Excessive drooling
- Tremors or seizures
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
If your dog shows any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian or an emergency vet clinic immediately.
7. Make Dog-Friendly Treats
Want your dog to feel extra special on Thanksgiving? Consider making a few treats just for them:
- Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Biscuits: These can be made with dog-safe ingredients like pumpkin puree and peanut butter (be sure it’s free from xylitol).
- Turkey Meatballs: Plain turkey mixed with veggies or rice makes for a healthy and festive treat your dog will love.
By following these tips, you can make sure your dog stays safe while enjoying a few treats of their own. With a little planning, you and your furry friend can both have a happy, healthy Thanksgiving!