It is Thanksgiving Day and though things may look different this holiday season, one thing will always remain: your dog sitting anxiously beside you at the dinner table watching you take your fork from your plate to your mouth time after time. We understand how it can be hard to say “no” to that furry face that looks at you so yearningly. Especially, with the spirit of gratitude in the air. So that’s why we’ve accumulated a list of harmless human foods that our pets can enjoy bits and pieces of this holiday season. After all, 2020 has been hard on us all and any little win is appreciated.
Fortunately, for our furry family members, many of the dishes that adorn our festive table spreads are pet friendly. For example, chicken and turkey. Many pet foods already include chicken and turkey in their formulas so these are foods that their organisms are already familiar with. However, if you do reach for a piece to pass down to your pet, be sure it is a well-cooked, unseasoned, tender portion of the dish. Our pets tend to have more sensitive digestion since their palette has been very limited all their lives. That’s why it is important to avoid foods that are too salty or spicy.
Another option on the table could be cooked vegetables; Especially, carrots and green beans—with richness in Vitamins A & K, protein, calcium, and iron. These are all wonderful contributors to a dog’s overall health. Again, be sure to follow the rule of limited salts and spices when it comes to cooked or uncooked veggies.
A staple side dish in most households is plain white rice which is also pet-safe and actually known to soothe upset stomachs for dogs.
To us, it sounds like your dog can have a full plate of Thanksgiving dinner! Before we get too excited, let's point out some harmful options that you should most definitely avoid giving to your pup.
Let’s start by reiterating the harms of salty foods for dogs. Too much salt can lead your pet to experience seizures, fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. Next, we’d like to point out the harms of onions and garlic. As delicious as they make our dishes, any dish that is cooked with onions and garlic should not go past our human plates. They contain substances that are toxic to dogs and can lead them to experience diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pains. On rare occasions, they can also lead dogs to develop anemia.
Lastly, something that we absolutely love and charge extra for here in Southern California is entirely toxic for our four-legged friends: avocado. Avocados contain a substance called persin which is toxic for dogs and can lead to vomiting and diarrhea.
There you have it. A concise guide to what you can and cannot hand-feed your dog from your Thanksgiving table! Happy Thanksgiving and we, at Petlox, wish you a day full of gratitude and peace.