Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with those you love, so it’s natural to want to include your four-legged companions in on the celebration. As hard as it is not to let your pet partake in your Thanksgiving feast, it’s probably best to keep the furry family members out of the room at mealtime. This ensures Pets won’t have access to potentially dangerous handouts or scraps that have fallen on the floor.
If you absolutely have to share some of the big meal with Fido or Fluffy, check out the Safe options listed below as well as those to avoid:
Safe:
- Turkey: As long as you keep the portions small, remove the skin, and remove the bones, turkey is typically a safe choice for pets.
- Sweet Potatoes: If they’re not drowning in brown sugar and marshmallows, natural sweet potatoes are a great snack for pets because they’re full of fiber, vitamin A, and iron.
- Green beans: Before dressed with butter, garlic, or that traditional fried onion topping, sharing a green bean or two with your pet is a healthy choice with plenty of potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
Not Safe:
- Stuffing: This Thanksgiving staple almost always contains several toxic ingredients like onions, garlic, leeks, and raisins. Stay on the side of caution and keep this side away from pets.
- Gravy: This turkey topper is full of fat, which can lead to stomach upset and even pancreatitis in pets.
- Dessert: From the high sugar content, to the possibility of dangerous ingredients like chocolate and macadamia nuts, dessert should be off-limits for pets. Opt for a healthy pet treat or homemade treat instead.
