Thanksgiving Leftovers You Shouldn’t Feed Your Dog
Thanksgiving's a day to feast, but there are some Turkey Day foods that could hurt your dog.
At our house, we really do feast on Thanksgiving day. We probably eat more on this particular holiday than we do on any other day of the year. We also like to make sure our dogs get to eat as well. Although we don't usually feed them leftovers, we will give them some plain green beans and, believe it or not, they really like carrots.
In case you don't know, there are several Thanksgiving foods that can hurt your dog, so be careful what table scraps you give them.
Chief medical officer and co-founder of the dog training app GoodPup, Erin Sawyer, tells the The New York Post, "Black Friday is known in both veterinary clinics and emergency hospitals as a notoriously busy day for all sorts of gastrointestinal issues in dogs.”
In general, avoid anything with lots of ingredients like butter, salt, and other spices. But here are four of the worst Thanksgiving offenders when it comes to pets.
1. Turkey. Unseasoned white meat is still okay, but don't give them any seasoned turkey or the turkey skin. More importantly, never give them the carcass, because the bones can splinter and mess up their insides.
2. Keep the garlic, onions, chives, and scallions away from your pets as well. It messes with their red blood cell counts. Also, no stuffing or gravy, since those are usually filled with those ingredients.
3. Raisins, grapes, and currants can cause kidney failure in dogs and some cats, so it's best to just keep those away from your pets too.
4. Baked goods, including sugar-free baked goods, are a no-go. Sugar can cause pancreatitis. There's a sugar substitute called xylitol that's used in sugar-free goods, and it can make their blood sugar plummet and cause liver failure. It tends to happen fast, so be really careful with anything sugar-free.
If your pet gets into something they shouldn’t, seek help right away. In the event of an emergency, contact the Pet Poison Helpline or your local vet that offers weekend and after-hours services.
So, what can they have? Here's a quick list of foods that are safe for dogs, according to AKC.
1. Sweet potatoes as long as they don't contain any added ingredients.
2. Boiled or baked potatoes, in moderation. But with no butter, sour cream, salt, or pepper.
3. Apples are also good for your dog, just be sure to cut around the core.
4. Green beans and plain peas are also good for Fido but remember no butter or salt.
5. Pumpkin is also listed as a healthy snack for your dog and helps with it's digestive system, skin and coat. Just make sure it's plain pumpkin and not the the pre-spiced pie mix.
6. How about for dessert? Frozen yogurt is a great option for the dog. Yogurt contains protein, and live bacteria that can help with digestion.
So there it is, some do's and don'ts for the dog. Happy Thanksgiving!