4 Healthy Thanksgiving Snacks for Your Pooch
Thanksgiving Day has finally arrived and you know what that means! Yes! Lots of tasty food for us to make and eat together as a family. All too often, our dogs get left out of the holiday celebrations, so I wanted to put together a list of 4 healthy holiday foods that you can share with your furry friend. (Please keep in mind that I am not a veterinarian! It is important to check with your vet prior to adding novel foods to your dog’s diet, especially if they have medical issues or food allergies/sensitivities.)
1.) Sweet Potatoes
Honestly one of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes! Cooked, plain sweet potatoes are naturally sweet, and a healthy source of fiber. This can have a positive impact on your dog’s digestion. They are also soft and easy to mash up and perfect for loading a Kong toy or a Licki Mat! Sweet potatoes are a calorie dense food, so that needs to be taken into account when feeding our pets. (DO NOT give dogs raw sweet potatoes as they can be a choking hazard and they can cause intestinal blockages. Also don’t give dogs sweet potato casserole, this may contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Plain, cooked sweet potatoes are the way to go.)
2.) Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a staple fall food. Humans tend to love adding this flavor to everything from coffee to beer so it is only natural that we would want our dogs to have a taste too! Plain canned pumpkin or fresh pumpkin are the best choices for Fido, and both are good sources of fiber and contain many nutrients. Pumpkin is also lower in calories which can help us feel less guilty about sharing this signature fall dish. Pumpkin is also a fantastic food to use in a Kong toy or other mental stimulation toy! (Pumpkin pie and canned pumpkin pie should NEVER be given to dogs! These can contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs!)
3.) Green Beans
Ah. Green bean casserole is a Thanksgiving feast tradition. While the casserole has ingredients that may be harmful for your pup (DO NOT feed green bean casserole to your dog), Fluffy can enjoy plain green beans. They can be a healthy and delicious snack. Green beans are low in calories for a guilt free addition to your dog’s treats. They are easily loaded into a Kong or used as a dog treat! (Our dogs LOVE the frozen ones!)
4.) Unseasoned Turkey
Turkey is almost synonymous with Thanksgiving Day food and the holiday itself. Thanksgiving Day turkey is NOT meant for dogs, so please DO NOT give it to them. The seasoning and many of the items that they tend to be cooked with (onions, garlic, etc.) can be toxic. Plus this holiday specialty contains bones that could be deadly for your dog. If you want your dog to have a small turkey taste, browning some ground turkey meat is a good option. It is easy too! Simply cook it, don’t add any seasoning! Once it is done, it is easy to use a spoon to fill a toy. We do this many years for our own dogs to mix into a Kong toy with some pumpkin or sweet potato for a special treat.