Gobble Up, Gobble Down: What Can My Dog Eat On Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is the time that we acknowledge all of the things we are thankful for. Of course, we don’t want to leave our furry blessings out of the mix. We also need to take precautions when it comes to the food we give our pups during the holiday festivities. There are certain things that can and cannot be consumed by our dogs on Thanksgiving:

•      Turkey is okay to give Spike, but make certain you only give him the white meat. Avoid the fatty skin and especially the bones, which can splinter in a dog’s mouth and cause a choking hazard or ultimately puncture his intestines. This not only applies to turkey but chicken bones as well.
•      Dogs are unable to eat several types of veggies as well. Do not give your dog anything with leeks, onions, garlic, scallions or mushrooms. Garlic and onions can cause toxic anemia in dogs. Mushrooms can affect many systems in the dog’s body and even be fatal. Since all these veggies can be harmful to dogs, don’t let them eat the casseroles or stuffing because both dishes typically contain one or more of the two types of veggies.
•      Mashed potatoes are actually alright for a dog to eat unless they contain sour cream, butter or gravy, which tend to be found in almost every typical recipe for mashed potatoes. Rich foods like butter and gravy can give your dog diarrhea. If you want your pooch to enjoy this traditional dish, set aside some of the potatoes before adding the butter.
•      Cranberry sauce is not too bad for dogs to eat, however, they shouldn’t be consuming too much sugar. If the cranberry sauce contains grapes, raisins or currants, then it’s a definite no. Grapes contain an unknown toxin that causes damage to the kidneys of dogs.
•      Obviously, don’t let your pooch drink the hooch!! They get drunk like humans do, but alcohol can lead to coma or death in dogs.

   With all of this Thanksgiving food info in mind, if you are aware of what is being put near your doggy, you will definitely have many things to be thankful for. Enjoy time with your family, friends, and pets in an all-around safe environment.