We all love treats at Thanksgiving, our pups included, but not all holiday foods are safe for them. While dogs can enjoy roast turkey, and many types of vegetables, you’ll want to be sure there’s no nasty surprise veterinarian trips by finding out what foods are good for dogs, which ones aren’t.
In this guide to Thanksgiving food for dogs, we’ll get into the holiday foods your dog can enjoy, foods that dogs shouldn’t eat at Thanksgiving, how to make a puppy friendly Thanksgiving dinner, as well as extra Zigzag tips and advice so that your dog stays safe during the festive season.
In the Zigzag training app, you’ll find information on health, how to feed your puppy as well as a full training program that teaches you about each stage in your puppy’s development, so that you get a happy and healthy pup. You’ll also find support from our team of in house professional dog trainers, they’re there to help you 24/7 via our in-app chat.
Thanksgiving foods your dog CAN eat
Yes, your dog can enjoy a Thanksgiving feast of their very one, here are some Thanksgiving foods which are safe for pups to eat:
Turkey
Turkey meat is safe for your puppy to eat, and is high in tryptophan, which can help to increase serotonin and lower stress. Just make sure the turkey is unseasoned, low salt, and don’t feed cooked bones!
Yams and Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes and yams are a firm southern favorite for Thanksgiving and are also high in vitamins, so are good for dogs too. Avoid giving them highly seasoned or salted yams though, and avoid lots of butter or cream in the mash.
Pumpkin and squash
Pumpkin season is upon us, and it’s not just for jack o’lanterns. Pumpkins contain the vitamins A, C, E, potassium, fiber, and other nutrients. The fiber in pumpkin can also help with a pup’s digestive issues like constipation or diarrhea.
Carrots
Guaranteed to make your dog see in the dark, ok maybe not, but carrots can be fed to your puppy. Frozen when they’re teething for a lovely, soothing chew, or cooked and added to their food for some tasty nutrients.
Cranberries
Fresh cranberries are fine to feed to dogs, they’re high in sugar, especially the dried version, so just be sensible about how many you give them.
Cheese
Dogs generally LOVE cheese, and it’s a wonderful high value treat for positive reinforcement training. Many dogs can struggle to process lactose and dairy, so cheese should only be fed to them in moderation.
Mushrooms
Store bought mushrooms are typically safe for dogs to eat, but they don’t offer them a whole lot of nutrition, so Fido probably won’t think they’re much of a treat!
Learn more about what puppies can eat in our guide to puppy nutrition.
Thanksgiving foods your dog CAN’T eat
Because nobody needs a Thanksgiving Veterinarian trip, here’s a list of foods your dog shouldn’t eat this Thanksgiving, and the reasons why:
Cooked Bones
Cooked turkey, chicken, or other white meat bones can splinter and should not be fed to dogs as they can be dangerous.
Grapes and Raisins
Grapes of all colors and their dried versions; sultanas, currants and raisins are all toxic for dogs and should not be fed to them, at Thanksgiving or any other time!
We’re not entirely sure why these harmless looking soft fruits are so bad for dogs. Grapes contain tartaric acid and potassium bitartrate, which are thought to play a role in their toxicity, as dogs cannot metabolize these properly. The dried type being more concentrated versions, are even more toxic!
Onions and Garlic
Onions are bad for dogs because they contain compounds called disulfides and thiosulfinates that damage red blood cells in dogs, leading to hemolytic anemia. We also find these compounds in garlic, leeks and other members of the allium family like chives and shallots, so alliums are best avoided.
Chocolate and Sugar
Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical which is poisonous to dogs. Typically, the more cocoa solids the chocolate has, the more theobromine it contains, so dark and high % chocolate is generally a lot more dangerous.
Refined sugar also isn’t very good for dogs, so it’s best to keep chocolates and sweets out of the snaffling reach of your beloved four legged family members!
Nuts
Nuts are not good to feed dogs because they are often high in salt, can be a choking hazard, and are difficult for dogs to digest. Aside from that, different nuts contain different compounds which can be toxic to dogs – Macadamia nuts for example, are highly toxic for dogs even in small amounts!
Xylitol
This artificial sweetener can be found in lots of human foods, and is toxic for dogs. Be sure that any processed or store bought food you feed your dog like pumpkin pie filling does not contain it. It can also be called birch sugar, so do check your ingredients labels.
Learn more about Xylitol in our article on dog safe peanut butter.
Alcohol
We think this one should be obvious but PLEASE do not give your dog alcohol at Thanksgiving (or any other time!). Alcohol, even in small amounts can cause intoxication, and alcohol poisoning can be fatal.
Making a puppy friendly Thanksgiving dinner
If you truly want to celebrate with your pup, why not make them their own Thanksgiving dinner?
Here’s our recipe for a thanksgiving themed doggy dinner:
- Leftover turkey meat
- Steamed carrots and green beans
- Cooked yams or pumpkin
- Mashed sweet potato
Serve up in a Thanksgiving themed dog bowl – you could also create some dog safe gravy by making a bone broth from leftover turkey bones.
Avoid using salted or seasoned foods, dogs should have a fairly bland diet, and their kidneys are not used to processing salt or seasoning so go easy!
Fancy cooking more for your dog? Check out our article on homemade puppy food.
Download the Zigzag puppy training app, and get your puppy started on their learning journey today! Training your puppy around their meal times can be a fantastic way of using food as a motivator when they are receptive and open to training.
Dogs strive on routines so having structured training sessions can help give them stability, download the app and get into the training groove today. We have a team of professional dog trainers available to chat to 24/7 via the app.
FAQs:
Is turkey or chicken better for dogs?
Both turkey and chicken are good lean proteins for dogs, with turkey slightly winning on being lower in fat, easier to digest for some dogs and containing tryptophans.
Is Thanksgiving turkey okay for dogs?
Yes, as long as you remove the salted/seasoned skin and you only give them flesh no bones.
What’s the best meat for dogs?
Dogs do well with chicken, turkey and lean beef, and if you have access to it then venison is also very good!
Veggie thanksgiving ideas for dogs
If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, your dog will also appreciate some of your leftover vegetables too.
