It may be tempting to give into a pet who’s making sad puppy dog eyes at the Thanksgiving dinner table, but knowing what food is good or bad for your pooch is vital to ensuring your holiday doesn’t end with a visit to an animal hospital.
It’s best to stick to a pet’s normal diet, according to Thanksgiving safety tips posted by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. But if Fido has to have a few table scraps, do your homework: Plain turkey is fine but butter, spices and bones can cause digestive issues.
Stuffing is pretty much a no-go, thanks to its yeast, onion, garlic and spices. Cornbread is a safe treat, as long as you leave out the butter and watch for other additives.
If you decide to give your canine companion turkey or some other meat, it’s important to make sure it’s both boneless and fully cooked, as raw poultry can have salmonella and small bones can be a choking hazard, the ASPCA advises
Chewy.com, the online pet food store and pharmacy, recommends removing the skin, which is fatty, and bones, which can also upset a dog’s digestive system.
“Everything about stuffing that makes it yummy, apart from meat, is off the menu for dogs,” veterinarian Alison Birken advises on the Chewy.com website. Also watch out for spices and other ingredients in turkey, casseroles or other Thanksgiving dishes that can bother pets. Nutmeg, salt, cinnamon, onions, garlic and stock made with the latter two ingredients can be toxic to pets, adds the ASPCA.
A bit of cornbread − without butter, chilis, hot pepper, artificial sweeteners like Xylitol or other problem ingredients − should be fine, according to Birken. Mac ‘n’ cheese poses other concerns, she noted: Flour used to make the pasta can be an issue for some dogs and lactose intolerant canines will have a problem with cheese sauces. A bite or two should be the maximum.
Chocolate can be toxic for pets, causing vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, seizures and even death, according to the ASPCA.
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Another, more hidden danger is Xylitol, a sweetener found in baked goods. Dogs can develop life-threatening low blood sugar and liver damage from eating foods with the chemical, the ASPCA says.
The ASPCA also recommends you avoid giving pets alcohol, avocados, coffee, caffeine, citrus, coconut, coconut oil, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, milk or other dairy products, nuts, chives, eggs, yeast dough and salty snack food.
If you do want to give your pup a treat, the ASPCA recommends mixing turkey, sweet potatoes or green beans – after ensuring they don’t have any of the previously mentioned spices and other potential toxins – into a pet’s normal food as one way to allow them to join the festivities.
Chewy.com adds: “A better bet [than table scraps] is a prepared or homemade dog treat with turkey flavors they can enjoy without risking tummy issues.”
If a pet does eat something toxic, pet owners can call either their local veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: noda@northjersey.com
Twitter: @snoda11
