Thanksgiving is synonymous with overindulgence. While many foods are safe to share with your pets on Thanksgiving, many are not! Knowing the difference could keep you out of the emergency vet clinic on this most fantastic day of feasting. If you do use people food in your pet’s Thanksgiving meal, remember to moderate their food intake -- even if you’re not able to do so for yourself!
SHOULD YOU SHARE THANKSGIVING FOODS WITH YOUR DOG OR CAT?
At Thanksgiving, chances are high that some sneaky family member or another will want to treat your pooch to a table scrap. Be clear with family about the rules, but don’t get too crazy about it. Manners and begging issues aside, Thanksgiving is a great holiday for pets. There are loads of good foods in traditional Thanksgiving meals that will be perfectly healthy for your dog or your cat.
TIPS FOR SHARING YOUR THANKSGIVING MEAL WITH YOUR PETS
Some stand by a strict no-people-food-for-pets rule in their homes. If that’s the case, it’s perfectly reasonable to uphold those rules even during the holidays. Other folks offer people food all year round, so Thanksgiving won’t be much of a departure. Here are a few tips to keep your cats and dogs feeling well:
- If you’re going to be adding unusual foods to your pet’s
diet on Thanksgiving, do so in moderation.
- Stay away from turkey skins, as these aren't good for pets!
- Feed your pet less of their usual food on days when
they’ll be getting extra goodies. Overeating is uncomfortable
for humans, but can be very serious in dogs. Gastric torsion, or twisting of the
stomach, can occur when a dog overindulges. Pancreatitis can occur when they have
foods that are too rich, like
the turkey skins mentioned above. These conditions can be
expensive for you, and uncomfortable or even deadly for
them.
- Mix table scraps in with reduced portions of the food
they’re used to. This can help ease
digestion.
- Share Thanksgiving foods at the pet’s meal time, and in their food bowl, instead of handing them tiny bits throughout the day. This should help stave off unwanted behaviors like constant begging. It will also help you keep track of how much your pet is actually eating. A little here and a little there can add up to a lot -- just ask any Weight Watcher!
HIDDEN INGREDIENTS ARE THE PITFALL OF SHARING THANKSGIVING MEALS WITH PETS
Here’s where even pet parents with the best of intentions can
go wrong: hidden ingredients. Family recipes often have that
“secret ingredient,” -- that hidden and oh-so-delish
ingredient that ends up being toxic
to your pet! At the top of the dangerous hidden
ingredients list are onions, garlic, and butter or excessive
fat. Onions and too much garlic can be toxic, especially to
dogs, while butter and other fatty foods are too rich for
pets, and can cause pancreatitis.
Avoid these pitfalls by reserving unadulterated ingredients
for your pet. During the cooking extravaganza, pull out some
lean turkey, sans gravy. Save a portion of baked or steamed
sweet potato before they’re buttered and creamed. Portion out
some stuffing bread crumbs before the sauteed onions and salt
are added. Collect these pet-safe bits, and mix them all
together at your pet’s meal time. Be sure to serve these
treats in small quantities that don't fill your pet's bowl.
If you're providing more than half of your pet's food as Thanksgiving fixin's, you're likely providing too much and setting yourself up for a trip to the vet.
THANKSGIVING FOODS THAT ARE NOT SAFE TO SHARE WITH YOUR CAT OR DOG
Avoid these ingredients, always:
- Raw poultry
- Turkey skin
- Butter and oils
- Bones, especially cooked bones, which are likely to splinter
- Alcohol: beer, wine, or anything else
- Nuts, especially walnuts or macadamia nuts
- Sweets like cookies, pie, and cake
- Onions, or anything with onion in it, even if the onions are cooked or macerated
- Garlic
- Some mushrooms (so to be safe, avoid all mushrooms)
- Some herbs like sage and nutmeg
THANKSGIVING FOODS THAT ARE SAFE TO SHARE WITH YOUR PET
These foods can be safely shared with your beloved cat or dog on Thanksgiving. Remember to moderate for your pet, even if it’s hard to do for yourself.
- Turkey, boneless
- Whole raw eggs
- Sweet potato or yams, as long as there’s no onions or cream involved
- Canned pureed pumpkin
- Raw apple (but not the seeds)
- Raw veggies like carrots
- Steamed veggies like green beans or broccoli
- Any rice, brown, white, or wild
THANKSGIVING FOODS FOR CATS: A REMINDER
Cats are obligate carnivores. This means they thrive on a diet primarily of meat. Meat can safely be shared with your cat on Thanksgiving. Other foods should be given in only very small amounts. Some cats just love sweet potatoes, but it's up to you to restrict their carb intake.
Remember, cats are much smaller than most dogs so your cat really shouldn't get more than a tablespoon of Thanksgiving fixings. An excess of veggies or carbs could give them an upset stomach.
Top 5 Tips for a Pet-Safe Thanksgiving
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, make sure you and your pets are ready for safe travels and hazard-free fun.All the rich foods, the long car ride you have planned, or the house-full of guests coming over could all be potential safety hazards for your pet. Here's how to keep your four-legged family enjoying the holiday fun right along with you.
Top 5 Tips for Pet Safety This Thanksgiving
1. Turkey bones may seem like a delicious treat, but all poultry bones can splinter if a pet chews on or eats them, and that can mean injury to their mouth or digestive system. Give your pet a turkey-flavored pet food instead.
2. Chocolate, onions, and garlic are among the most toxic foods for pets. Read up on the most dangerous foods for dogs and cats, and keep any uncovered dishes in your sight if your pet is likely to try to sneak a bite from the table or counter.
3. In general, table foods aren't meant for pets. Too much salt and fat can cause tummy troubles, or even liver troubles, which could require a veterinary visit.
4. If you're taking your pet with you to a relative's or friend's house, be sure to bring a travel water bowl and the proper crate or harness. Then follow the 5 steps to a safe drive with your dog.
5. If the party is coming to you this year, your pet could become nervous with all the extra
More on Pet Nutrition
Is Your Cat a Picky
Eater?
Gourmet Pet Foods To
Choose From
Recipe To Help
Dog Digestive Stress
This information is for informational purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for the professional advice of, or diagnosis or treatment by, your veterinarian. It has however been reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Joe, a board certified veterinary nutritionist and graduate of Cornell University's program for Veterinary Medicine.