Thanksgiving Dinner Recipe For Your Dog and Cat

We have 4 beagles. Two are puppies and two are old guys. So, We couldn’t resist reposting this from radiofence blog. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on November 19, 2015 by radiofence

Thanksgiving Ingredients That Are Healthy For Dogs and Cats: Keep It Plain and Simple

Have you ever seen people put traditional Thanksgiving dinner into the dog or cat’s bowl as a “treat?” Well, dogs and cats can’t handle cream, butter, salt and pepper, or other seasonings and ingredients that you and I love on Thanksgiving. But plain turkey, potatoes, and veggies are perfect for a dog-friendly meal. Here’s what you should feed your pet on Thanksgiving:

• Plain, Skinless Turkey – it’s great for pets, and even considered the safest meat for dogs that are prone to allergies
• Cranberries – a great source of vitamin C and antioxidants
• Pumpkin – the plain, pure kind: so no pumpkin pie!
• Yams –  full of fiber and super healthy
• Veggies – plain, steamed green beans (not the casserole!), peas, carrots, etc
• Sweet Potatoes
• Plain mashed potatoes – no butter or seasonings!

Healthy Thanksgiving Dinner For Pets

I wanted to make sure whatever I fed my dogs on Thanksgiving was going to be a tasty treat for them without compromising their health. I’d hate to give them something that would give them upset bellies, diarrhea, or worse! This should be a fun experience, not one that leaves us in the emergency vet!

Be Careful: You Can’t Suddenly Switch Your Dog’s Diet

Have you ever decided to suddenly switch your dog’s food without transitioning? Doing so leaves your dog’s digestive system in shambles, and you probably had a ton of piles on the floor to clean. You can’t switch your dog from a bowl of dry kibble to a plate full of human food on Thanksgiving without wreaking havoc on your dog’s tummy.

Just give your dog a little taste like a treat, but don’t make an entire meal out of it. A small portion of food that isn’t too saturated in fat and oils will be just right!

Thanksgiving Dinner Beware!

The scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner we all know and love isn’t exactly dog-friendly… there are ingredients and components of the traditional Thanksgiving meal that would leave your dog with a belly ache or worse – a table-scrap mishap that leads to an all-nighter at the emergency vet!

I was searching the internet for a dog-friendly thanksgiving meal, and I was actually appalled at how many reputable dog bloggers were saying to use “garlic powder” or fresh, chopped garlic for dogs! They were suggesting that readers use way too many toxic ingredients in their dog recipes, and I feel compelled to set the record straight on what ingredients your dog can and CAN’T have on Thanksgiving.

Ingredients To Avoid Feeding Your Dog:

• Onions – contain thiosulphate which is toxic to cats and dogs: causes the red blood cells circulating through your pet’s body to burst
• Garlic – minute amounts are believed to be non-toxic, but large ingestions are very toxic, so why take the risk at all?
• Gravy – it’s fatty and known to cause pancreatitis in dogs. No sauces made with wine, either!
• Turkey Skin- the seasonings aren’t good for pups!
• Bones! Dogs are born to chew on bones, but not the brittle and the tiny pieces from Turkeys that cause obstructions in their intestines
• Stuffing – the bread, salt, and fat isn’t good for your pet!
• Casseroles – onions, spices, and butter are a big no, and dairy causes diarrhea! Stay away from casseroles and dishes with more than 2 ingredients for dogs
• Dinner Rolls – your dog doesn’t process grains or gluten as easily as you do, so it’s not worth giving to your pet

The chief veterinarian with Los Angeles Animal Services says: “Veterinarians experience an increased number of office calls due to digestive problems after the holidays because humans invite their animals to celebrate with high-fat meals.”

You don’t want to spend Thanksgiving night at the emergency veterinarian due to a table-scrap mishap! Educate your family and guests on what foods are safe and which ones are not when slipping your dog or cat a treat. And always keep the ASPCA’s poison control center contact info nearby: 888-426-4435.

Posted on November 19, 2015 by radiofence