It’s that time of year again when we all come together to celebrate with family and friends. But while Thanksgiving is a time for happiness and joy, it can also be dangerous for our furry friends. That’s because many foods we eat on Thanksgiving Day are dangerous for dogs.
If you’re not careful, your dog could end up eating something that could make them very sick. This blog post will discuss the five dangerous Thanksgiving foods for dogs and how to keep them safe!
5 Thanksgiving Foods You Should Not Feed Your Dog
- Turkey Skin
- Cooked Turkey Bones
- Gravy and Stuffing
- Nutmeg
- Nuts
Foods You Should Not Feed Your Dog on Thanksgiving
With Thanksgiving coming up, we all want to thank our dogs for being loyal and loving companions. But giving them a seat at the Thanksgiving feast is not the best way to express your gratitude!
Many foods we consume on Thanksgiving Day are unsafe for dogs. Knowing which foods not to feed your dog can save a life. Learn more about the risks of feeding dogs turkey skin, gravy, and stuffing, nutmeg, and nuts with our comprehensive FAQs.
1. Turkey SkinÂ
Turkey skin is high in fat and usually absorbs garlic, onion, and other spices and flavors, which are bad for your dog.
- Alternative Food: Turkey Meat, remove all fat, skin, and bones.
2. Cooked Turkey Bones
The cooked bones can splinter and cut a dog’s throat or stomach.
- Alternative Food: Potatoes – no added salt or butter.
3. Gravy and Stuffing
A handful of the yummy ingredients make thanksgiving stuffing dangerous for dogs. Do you use onions, garlic, leeks, scallions, sage, or mushrooms in your gravy or stuffing recipes? All of those ingredients are toxic to dogs.
The alliums (onions, garlic, leeks, and scallions) can lead to anemia. Sage causes an upset stomach, and mushrooms are hard to digest.
- Alternative Food: Apples
4. Nutmeg
Nutmeg is commonly used in pumpkin or sweet-potato pie and has an appealing fragrance that’s attractive to humans & dogs. Nutmeg contains a compound called myristicin which is toxic to dogs. High doses of nutmeg can cause hallucinations, increased blood pressure, seizures, and abdominal pain. These symptoms can last for 48 hours. Even if only small doses are ingested, your dog will show symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea.
- Alternative Food: Pureed Pumpkin without spices or additives.
5. Nuts
While some nuts are safe for dogs, others are not. Peanuts, cooked or roasted cashews, and hazelnuts are safe for your dog.
However, walnuts can cause seizures, and macadamia nuts are high in fat and can cause pancreatitis.
Pecans and hickory nuts can cause obstructions and stomach pain. Almonds aren’t toxic to dogs but aren’t easy to digest and can cause gastric intestinal distress.
Pistachios are high in fat, and when they are fed to your dog in large amounts, they cause pancreatitis.
Dog-Friendly Foods
Your dog doesn’t completely have to miss the meal! There are still a few Thanksgiving foods your dog can eat. You can give your dog some mashed potatoes if it doesn’t have butter, cheese, sour cream, onions, or gravy on top. Carrots, sweet potatoes, and bananas are also safe for dogs.
Conclusion
Although Thanksgiving is a time for celebration and delicious food, it’s also important to remember that some foods we enjoy are unsafe for dogs. Knowing which foods to avoid will keep your furry friend safe this holiday season! Make sure you double-check all ingredients before offering your dog any human food.
Additionally, always provide plenty of clean water so your pup can stay hydrated. Most importantly, provide lots of love and affection to show your appreciation for your dog’s devotion throughout the year!
FAQS
Q. Is turkey safe for my dog?
A. Cooked, boneless turkey is generally safe for dogs in moderation. However, the skin and bones should not be fed to your pet as they can cause choking or other digestive issues.
Q. Can I give my dog stuffing?
A. No, stuffing usually contains onions, garlic, leeks, scallions, sage, and mushrooms which can be toxic to dogs.
Q. Can my dog eat pumpkin pie?
A. No, pumpkin pies are typically made with nutmeg, which is toxic to dogs. However, you can offer your pup some plain pureed pumpkin as a safe alternative.
Thank you CyberPet.com for this graphic.
