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Top Tips for Feeding Pets Thanksgiving Leftovers
Thanksgiving is almost here! Families and friends are preparing for visits, black Friday shopping, and yes - Food! Those preparing the meals for the big day are always thinking about how to make food taste the best for everyone. But with so many people filling a space to eat and be thankful, your family pets might not appreciate some of the cooking as much. In fact, there are several types of foods that can prove deadly.
This guide can help you determine which foods can be shared with your pets and which ones should be avoided during Thanksgiving.
4 Foods you can share with your pet on Thanksgiving:
1. Let’s start off with the main dish at many Thanksgiving tables - turkey. Since turkey is a lean meat, it is totally fine to share with your pets. However, be sure that it is free of all skin, excess fat and small bones.
2. Another food that is sure to grace tables everywhere is mashed potatoes, which are also ok to share. Please be sure to remember that the additives used (butter, sour cream and gravy) to make them super tasty, aren’t so great for your pet’s sensitive stomach.
3. While grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs, cranberries and cranberry sauce is perfectly fine to share. One thing to keep an eye on with store-bought sauces is the sugar content. Excess amounts of sugar can cause negative reactions in your pet’s health.
4. Much like the mashed potatoes, green beans are safe for your pet, but the spices and additives can be harmful to them. Be mindful of the amount of sodium that is present in the other ingredients. If the green beans are cooked into a casserole, it is a good idea to avoid sharing this dish altogether.
3 Foods not to share with pets:
1. Onions, garlic and other alliums are also a huge part of seasoning Thanksgiving dinner to perfection. While small amounts may be suitable for animals who are accustomed to them, large quantities of onions and garlic are harmful to your pet. Steering clear of them entirely for is the best option for your pet if you are unsure of how they will respond.
2. While cooking this holiday season, the urge to use artificial sweeteners may be high as an alternative to real sugar and higher calories. Please remember that these artificial sweeteners contain Xylitol, also referred to as sugar alcohols. The artificial sweeteners may be a healthier option for you, but they can prove deadly for your furry friend. If you intend to share leftovers with Fido, you might have to sacrifice the few extra calories on your own plate.
3. Though it is widely known that dogs shouldn’t ingest chocolate, this one needed to be repeated due to the high risk it poses for your pet. Many times, chocolate is used as a flavoring ingredient rather than a main ingredient. Be sure that you run through the entire ingredient list before sharing each type of food.
There are many foods that you can share with your furry companion this Thanksgiving. If you are curious about other foods, check with your local veterinarian before sharing them. When in doubt, a great rule of thumb is to avoid human foods completely and stick with their pet food.
Lynzee Glass, Director of Communications
Lynzee Glass has always had a passion for agriculture. Lynzee grew up in a small southwest Missouri town on her parents’ beef cattle operation. Her true appreciate for agriculture was developed during her involvement in FFA (Future Farmers of America). Lynzee attended Missouri State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural communications. After graduation Lynzee worked as the managing editor of Ozarks Farm and Neighbor newspaper, a regional livestock publication, where she had the opportunity to share the stories of Ozark farmers. Throughout that time, Lynzee was published over 100 times. Under her direction as managing editor, Ozarks Farm and Neighbor was award first-place in newspaper- general excellence by the Livestock Publications Council. She has also been recognized in the industry for her writing and photography skills.
Today, her role as Director of Communications gives her the opportunity to continue working in agriculture. Lynzee oversees the website, social media, event planning, marketing and advertising.
When Lynzee is not at the office she can be found volunteering within her church, serving as the marketing chair for Missouri State University Darr School of Agriculture Alumni and spending time with family and friends.