Thanksgiving Safe Food for Pets

Food is a way many of us show love, and it may be tempting to want to show love to your pet the same way. After all, our pets truly are members of our family. When you gather for Thanksgiving this year, it is important to know which foods are safe to offer your cat or dog. Some pet parents may have been warned against offering “people food” to pets, but actually fresh foods can not only be a safe and tasty treat, but can also offer health benefits for your pet as well. 

Turkey time doesn’t mean your pet has to be left out. While it is not safe to offer your dog any cooked bones, and it is best to avoid offering fat or skin, other parts of the turkey are a great, healthy treat to give your cat or dog. Most store-bought turkeys will also come with the turkey giblets, which are great to feed your cat or dog if you don’t plan on using them. Giblets include the turkey gizzards, heart, and liver and are filled with nutrients! It is safe to offer the giblets raw, but you can also boil them if you prefer your pet to have them cooked. Filled with vitamins and minerals like vitamin B12, thiamine, vitamin C, and vitamin A to name a few, these nutrients in giblets help support brain function, immune health, and also provide great source of lean protein.

Sweet potato and pumpkin are another Thanksgiving food you can feel good about sharing with your dog. Both sweet potato and pumpkin are excellent sources of fiber and can help support digestive health. While you shouldn’t offer your pup a slice of your own pumpkin pie or sweet potatoes glazed with sugar, plain sweet potato or pumpkin are great additions. If you are a pet parent who likes to go the extra mile, you can even bake a healthy, dog-friendly pumpkin pie for your pooch. Pumpkin and sweet potatoes are both packed with beta-carotene, which helps to support healthy eyes, skin, and is a powerful antioxidant.