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 petโs Thanksgiving meal, remember to moderate their food
intake -- even if youโre 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 donโt 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 thatโs the case, itโs perfectly reasonable to
uphold those rules even during the holidays. Other folks
offer people food all year round, so Thanksgiving wonโt be
much of a departure. Here are a few tips to keep your cats
and dogs feeling well:
- If youโre going to be adding unusual foods to your petโs
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
theyโll 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
theyโre used to. This can help ease
digestion.
- Share Thanksgiving foods at the petโs 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
Hereโs where even pet parents with the best of intentions can
go wrong: hidden ingredients. Family recipes often have that
โsecret ingredient,โ -- 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 theyโre 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 petโs 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
itโs hard to do for yourself.
- Turkey, boneless
- Whole raw eggs
- Sweet potato or yams, as long as thereโs 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
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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.
