Thanksgiving is almost here, which means a house full of loved ones and wonderful food, and for many, our pets are included as loved ones, so, should your furry family members partake in the yummy food celebration?
The answer is yes and no. Many of the foods we eat are not the best to offer your pets. Let’s take a look at a few traditional Thanksgiving foods to find out which ones are safe.
First, there are whipped potatoes. While the potatoes are acceptable, many of us add ingredients, such as milk, butter, sour cream and cheese, which are not appropriate for your pets. Some dogs can tolerate dairy and others cannot. Also, if you cover your potatoes in gravy, they are a definite no—much too rich for pet stomachs. So, plain potatoes, yes. Spiffed up potatoes, no.
Many families eat cranberry sauce when celebrating this holiday, and this is a perfectly delicious treat to feed your canine companions.
How about green bean casserole? Well if it’s a casserole, it’s not recommended. Due to the milk, potential garlic and onion topping, this makes it a no. However, plain green beans are completely acceptable. In fact, adding plain canned green beans to your dog’s kibble is a great way to stretch your budget and give him something interesting and different to eat.
What about pumpkin pie? Pumpkin is good for pets, right? Plain pumpkin in a paste, not pumpkin pie filling, is what is safe for pets. So, the pumpkin pie is out no matter how cute your dog looks while begging.
How about the pièce de résistance… the turkey? Yes, you absolutely can feed your dog some of your delicious turkey. Just be sure any fat or skin is removed, as well as gravy. Of course, also be certain it contains no bone pieces.
A Thanksgiving Day plate
Your dog’s Thanksgiving Day plate can be filled with:
- plain, skinless turkey
- plain potatoes
- cranberry sauce
- plain green beans
- pumpkin without sugar
Much of this same information applies to cats as well, with an extra caution against anything dairy, as cats have a difficult time digesting the lactose.
No matter how you and your loved ones celebrate, Critter Caretakers wishes you and your family a wonderful Turkey Day. We’re grateful to our community members who put their faith and trust in us to provide exceptional pet sitting to you and your furry family members.
We still have available space for the holidays, but anticipate it filling quickly. To discuss your pet care needs, call us today at (480) 553-0105.