Thanksgiving Scraps and Your Pet
As Thanksgiving fast approaches family visits and meal plans are being laid out all across America! Most family meals for Thanksgiving are composed of “traditional fair” and can be found in almost any home. During a time of celebration and goodwill it’s easy to want to share your good spirits and fortune with your pet too. Just what is a treat or a toxin for your pet amongst those leftovers though? Let us break it down for you!
What to share and what to spare this Thanksgiving!
Are These Thanksgiving Treats Pet Safe?
- Turkey – Turkey is a great holiday treat for your pet! Just remember to be smart about it. If your pet is watching their waistline be sure to stick to light meat instead of dark. For safety be sure to remove any bones too. They can be a choking hazard or get lodged in a pet’s GI tract.
- Stuffing – Skip the stuffing when it comes time for pet treats. Most all stuffing (even the boxed mix) will contain garlic and/or onions which aren’t good for pets. Most recipes also contain lots of butter and fats.
- Green Bean Casserole – Absolutely not! For many of the same reasons with the stuffing – the onions and fats. If your pet is hanging around the kitchen while your cooking though, feel free to toss them a green bean or two though!
- Pumpkin Pie – Not the best option for a pet treat. Sugar is never good for a pet. If you just can’t stand the idea of your pet going without a dessert, consider a very small amount of cool whip – or make your own pet treats!
- Cranberry Sauce – Skip it, especially if it has other ingredients mixed in like raisins or nuts – both of which are harmful to pets.
- Mashed Potatoes with Gravy– If it’s just plain mashed potatoes with a simple pan gravy then it’s just a matter of fats and your pet’s waistline. If your family likes to toss in chives, garlic, or onions though, keep it above the table top!
- Dinner Roles – Feel free to toss unbuttered rolls to your pet! If your recipe contains sugar though, keep it to a minimum!
- Sweet Potatoes – Plain sweet potatoes can be a great treat for your pet! Some people even like to dehydrate them as pet treats! If you’re making them candied or into a casserole with marshmallows, sugar, or nuts, avoid this entirely! Though fully expect them to give you “the eyes”.
- Deviled Eggs – Eggs are generally fine for pets. In fact some pet owners like to mix egg into pet food one a week to increase coat shine. The many additions that can go into deviled eggs may cause belly upset though. Use your knowledge of your pet’s eating habits and your recipe to determine if one would be okay!
Before the hubbub of the feast try to let guests know (especially children) if they share with your pet. If keeping an eye on everything is too much for you consider confining your pet to a separate room during meal time. This will allow you to be the one to divvy out treats during clean up so you know exactly what your pets getting into!
photo credit: All for me via photopin (license)