A Dog Thanksgiving Dinner Your Pup Won’t Forget

Planning a dog Thanksgiving? Host a dinner your dog will remember for years to come!

I love this time of the year. The weather is beautiful and we are just entering the holiday season. Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving is one of my favorites. I’m a pretty grateful pup. I’ve got a wonderful life with incredible parents and awesome co-workers. What more could a canine ask for? A holiday that celebrates gratitude is the best of all holidays.

I also love Thanksgiving for the food. All right, I’ll admit it! I love turkey, and there are so many side dishes I just want to lick clean. My parents spend a lot of time researching foods that make dogs sick and also foods that keeps dogs healthy. Whenever they host a Thanksgiving dinner, I’m happy to report that I get my own plate of yummies!

If you’re planning a Thanksgiving dinner, you might want to read up on what food is good to share with your four-legged friends, and what to avoid. Better yet, if you really want to spoil your pooch, host a dog Thanksgiving at your house, and only invite your furry friends over for the celebration!

Thanksgiving food that is okay to share with your dog:

• Turkey. A great source of protein, turkey is a great option to feed your pet on Thanksgiving. Stay away from dark meat, as it’s fattier, and give your pet a small portion of white meat.
• Homemade cranberry sauce. If you make your own cranberry sauce with fresh fruit, your dog may love to try it. Cranberries are rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, and C, and also help with urinary tract infections.
• Carrots. Are you cooking with carrots? If so, chop up some raw carrots before they get warmed up and share with your dog. They will love the sweet, chewy texture, and you will know they are getting lots of vitamins, potassium, and fiber.
• Green beans. Low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals, green beans are a great addition to your dog’s Thanksgiving plate. Just be cautious what they are cooked with. Some of the ingredients in a green-bean casserole are not healthy for dogs.
• Sweet potatoes are a favorite of mine. As long as you are sharing them with your dog sans butter and salt, they make a healthy treat.
• Pumpkin. Okay, so there was that one time I stole a piece of pumpkin pie. And boy was it good. Pie isn’t the best option for a treat because nutmeg isn’t great for dogs, and is usually one of the pie’s ingredients. That being said, pumpkin on its own is great for dogs. It helps our digestive system and it tastes oh so good.

Avoid sharing these foods with your dog on Thanksgiving:

• Turkey skin. High in fat, the turkey skin isn’t very healthy for your dog and his digestive system. Treat them with the meat, but be sure to take the skin off first.
• Canned cranberry sauce is full of sugar and therefore not a healthy option for your pet.
• Bones. I hate even reporting this, because dogs love bones, but the best thing you can do for your pets is throw the bones out before feeding us (and keep us away from the trashcan)!
• Onions. Onions are never a good option to feed your pet. They’re very toxic, and cooking them doesn’t reduce their toxicity.
• Alcohol. When did dogs start drinking? Research tells me that some dogs love beer, but I cannot advocate for that! Beer and other alcohol can be very toxic, and could even kill your dog. Keep your pup sober, friends.
• Nuts. Walnuts and macadamia nuts in specific can cause toxicity in dogs and make them very ill.
• Chocolate. Yikes! Are we still talking about chocolate? It’s no good for dogs. Never has been and never will be!

Set food  expectations with your human guests

While it’s certainly fine for you to feed your pet on Thanksgiving, your very generous relatives may be sneaking snacks to your puppy under the table. While some turkey and side dishes may be okay for your dog to ingest, you wouldn’t want your dog to overeat by being fed by everyone in attendance. If you don’t mind your dog getting human food as treats, it will be your responsibility to monitor how much he consumes over the course of the party.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your whole family! What are your favorite dog Thanksgiving dinners to feed your furry friend? Let me know in the comments!

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