Thanksgiving is almost here, and there will be lots of delicious entrees, casseroles, and sides on the table! You and your dog might be drooling, but you must resist their sweet stare. Most Thanksgiving foods dogs cannot eat, but there are a few foods that have great nutritional benefits if you decide to give your dog a little taste.
Most likely, if these Thanksgiving foods are already in their serving bowls and trays, your dog cannot eat them.
Served holiday dishes will have added sugar, added fat, and probably already contain certain ingredients and spices that our dogs cannot and should not digest. Ingestion of fatty foods can cause liver disease, pancreatitis, and obesity in your dog – which can be fatal.
Rule of thumb: If it’s delicious, it’s probably not good for your dog’s health.
Food items that make our holiday foods extra delicious – butter, garlic, salt and spices, etc – are not good for your dog’s health. Even foods under the “YES” category should always be enjoyed by your dog in moderation. For example, a lot of pumpkin can cause your dog to have diarrhea.
Thanksgiving Foods Your Dog Can Eat
Most Thanksgiving foods dogs can eat are surprisingly nutritious! Most are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber that aid digestion and can help your dog live a longer, healthier life. But like all foods your give your dog, all foods should be enjoyed in moderation to avoid stomach upset.
Dried or cooked plain cranberries
If you do give your dog cranberries, don’t fret! They are an excellent source of antioxidants. Antioxidants in cranberries can help their immune system and prevent certain types of cancer. Antioxidants in cranberries can even improve their brain and bladder function.
Cranberries can be given to your dog in dried or cooked form. Any jarred or canned cranberry sauce should be avoided because of the extra ingredients and preservatives, and chance for xylitol.
Green beans
Nice choice, dog guardian! Green beans are rich in vitamins and minerals! They are full of fiber and are super low in calories. They are a great snack when given to your dog plain.
Peas
Peas are another food that is great for your dog’s health. They are high in protein and fiber, which will help their growth and digestion. Make sure there is no salt, butter, or spices on the peas you give your dog.
White potatoes
Before you mash your potatoes, you can give them to your dog. Make sure they are plain and cooked. Potatoes on their own are naturally rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6, iron and magnesium.
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes without added sugar have lots of nutritional benefits to your best friend. This healthy vegetable has high amounts of Vitamin A. Vitamin A can help your dogs eyes, coat, and nerves.
White turkey meat
White (plain) turkey meat is a lean protein without a lot of fat, which can make it safe for your dogs to eat in moderation. This lean protein contains amino acids that can help your dog maintain a healthy weight.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a dog-friendly super food! It contains vitamin A, C, E, iron and potassium. Pumpkin is great for your dog’s digestion because it has a high soluble fiber content.
Thanksgiving Foods your Dog Cannot Eat
Most Thanksgiving dishes are NOT dog-friendly. Your dog cannot digest fat, sugar, salt, garlic, onions, and spices – which make most holiday foods extra delicious to us humans. Some ingredients in Thanksgiving foods are toxic to dogs in small amounts like raisins and xylitol.
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is usually full of harmful preservatives and sugar. Canned cranberry sauce is even worse. Some brands of cranberry sauce can even contain xylitol, a sugar substitute that could kill a dog if ingested.
Turkey skin, dark meat and bones
Any cooked bones can cause intestinal blockages and perforations in a dog’s digestive system. Turkey skin is high in fat and could contain other toxic ingredients.
Mashed potatoes
Garlic, butter and milk are ingredients that are unhealthy (therefore unsafe) for your dog. These ingredients can be harmful for our best friends.
Alcohol, desserts, whipped cream, & chocolate
Need I say more? Avoid these toxic foods. Any food that is high in sugar should be avoided. It is not funny or cute to feed your dog whipped cream from a can or alcoholic beverages. Whipped cream can contain xylitol.
These foods can damage their liver and kidneys. We must be their advocate and keep them safe from these foods and beverages.
Ham
Ham is salty and fatty. Since ham contains sodium-rich preservatives, it should not be fed to dogs. Sodium in large amounts can be toxic to dogs.
Raisins and grapes
If raisins or grapes are ingested in small amounts, they could be fatal to your dog. If your dog ingests any amount of raisins or grapes, consult your veterinarian immediately.
Onion and garlic
Onion, garlic, leeks and chives are all toxic to dogs. These are all part of the allium family, which should not be ingested by dogs.
Author: Ely Twiggs
Ely's love for the outdoors and having first hand experience of the shortness of life was the impetus for her move from Australia into an RV to travel the US. When she got to Bend, she knew this was the place. After creating The Dog in Us, a multi-channel platform about exploring National Parks with Dogs, she wanted to bring dog-approved resources to a local community she loves. Enter The Dog Guide Bend, a resource made for the Bend Dog Community. Ely is the guardian of two rescue dogs, Alaska and Smoky Joe, and they are the center of her universe. Ely and her husband Tom run a mobile RV repair business called Meet You There RV Repair & Inspection.