November is a time of gratitude, self-reflection and eating a whole bunch of turkey! It’s always seemed to me that Thanksgiving is the most dog-like holiday. The holiday is all about eating a lot of food, lazing about the rest of the day, and reminding those you love how grateful you are for their contributions to your life. Sounds like an average day for a dog, doesn’t it?
Thanksgiving is a largely dog-friendly holiday, and there are few safety tips to be aware of before then. We have gathered some thoughts on having a safe Thanksgiving meal with your dog:
Thanksgiving Turkey
Dogs love turkey! Feel free to give your pup some Thanksgiving turkey with dinner. Just make sure that it’s cooked (dogs can get salmonella too!) and that the bones are all out of it. Don’t let your dogs have poultry bones or carcasses. Dogs don’t chew too thoroughly, and the sharp bits can scratch their insides. Stick to meaty bits, your furry friend will thank you!
Mashed Potatoes
Potatoes are a fun snack for your dog, and mashed potatoes are a familiar texture for them. Dogs don’t need much in the way of starches or carbs in their diet, so they don’t need a very large serving. Garlic is common in mashed potatoes, but is toxic to dogs. They also don’t need as much salt, so having a salt-free portion would be helpful. So if you are someone who likes to add extra flavor to your Thanksgiving potatoes, try to serve your dog before adding too many spices.
Vegetables
Many dogs enjoy a variety of vegetables in their food, some more than others. While I’ve seen dogs get crazy over baby carrots and green beans, by far the most popular vegetable is peas. Most dogs will eat frozen peas straight out of the freezer as a crunchy snack! The same warnings about spices apply to veggies as they do to potatoes, just take it easy.
Dessert
Eating dessert is my favorite part of Thanksgiving! Pumpkin pie is always the best part of the meal, and your dog agrees too! Pure, pureed, pumpkin and sweet potato can be served to your dog directly from the can as a tasty treat. Many dog owners mix a tablespoon of pumpkin with their dog’s food to aid in digestion. That said, you may reconsider giving your dog a slice of pumpkin pie for dessert.
What is largely known as “pumpkin spice” is mostly just a combination of a couple common spices added to pumpkin pie. Those spices are traditionally associated with Thanksgiving and are: clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice. Nutmeg and cinnamon can be toxic to your dog or cat, but not in any quantities they’d ever get from a piece of pie. Your faithful companion doesn’t need any of the refined sugar in pie, so it’s probably best to let them have some right from the can.
Relaxation
After all that great food shared between everyone, it’s time for a relaxing evening. Here at Seattle Canine Club we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
If you plan on being out of town over the Thanksgiving weekend, consider bringing your furry friend to Seattle Canine Club to stay. We board every day of the year and would like to help ensure that your dog is nice and comfy on Thanksgiving. Click Here to see our membership requirements or Click Here for our 2017 Holiday Hours.