How to Make Your Dog Their Own Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is officially a week away and it is time to start planning what dishes you want to make. Whether you are the one that makes the meal, helps out where you can, or simply shows up to enjoy the food, it is always a fun time to get together with your loved ones and eat some good food. 

If you are a dog owner, you are familiar with their tendency to make their rounds from person to person, hoping for a scrap of food while you enjoy the feast.  

If you are anything like me, you want to make this holiday special for your pup as well. A great way to do so is by making them their own Thanksgiving meal to enjoy along with the family. The only trouble is figuring out what is and is not safe for them to have.  

Fortunately, many ingredients that go into a holiday meal are safe for dogs. You just might have to put a little bit aside before you cook everything up. Overall, avoid salt, sugar, seasonings, bones, fat, and skin. 

Here are some common Thanksgiving foods that are safe for your dog:

• Green Beans: Safe raw, cooked, or canned.
• Sweet Potato: Safe if cooked.
• Cranberries: Safe raw, dried, or cooked without sugar.
• Pumpkin: Safe if cooked or canned.
• Turkey: Safe if cooked, unseasoned, and without fat, bones, or skin.
• Potatoes: Safe if cooked.
• Apples: Safe cooked or raw without core or seeds.

These are Thanksgiving foods to avoid feeding your dog:

• Turkey bones, skin, and gravy.
• Casseroles
• Ham
• Yeast dough
• Chocolate
• Onions/scallions/garlic
• Stuffing
• Anything containing spices, sugar, or salt

Now that you know what you can and cannot feed your dog this Thanksgiving, go ahead and add some of the safe foods as a topper to their regular meal, or make them their own special plate.

I suggest a delicious plate of green beans, pumpkin, sweet potato, apples, and a small slice of turkey!