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Writer's pictureRobert Sanchez

Dog-Safe Thanksgiving Foods for Your Dog

As Thanksgiving approaches, we begin to prepare by buying our cranberries, mac and cheese, potatoes, turkey, ham, and all those delicious Thanksgiving ingredients. While we are purchasing these delicious ingredients for our feast come Thursday, we can't help but think of letting our pups in on the delicious meal. If you are wondering how your poms can indulge in the tastiest meal of the season, here are some do’s and don’ts this holiday season.


  1. Turkey: As turkey may be in many of our pup's diets, it would be fun for our fur babies to taste the real thing prepared with our hands. Depending on how you prepare your turkey, your baby may be able to enjoy some with you. Turkey is great for dogs for many reasons. For one, it is a great source of protein, and it also has phosphorus, which helps with healthy digestion and teeth. Turkey ultimately has a variety of healthy nutrients that are great for your dog’s health.

    1. Make sure the turkey that your dog is enjoying is PLAIN without any added seasonings. Some seasonings, like salt, onion, and garlic, can be dangerous to their health.

    2. If you prepare your turkey with lots of seasonings but still want your pom to have some turkey, consider having a pupsgiving for all your baby’s little friends. Not only can they enjoy a yummy dinner, but they can socialize and play!

  2. Sweet Potato: Sweet potato is a fun treat for your Pomeranian to enjoy as it has a naturally sweet flavor to it. One benefit that your pup can get from this is healthy digestion. Sweet Potato is full of fiber and is a great way to help your pup if they are having digestive issues.

  3. Veggies: Vegetables are great for your pom as a snack or a meal topper. Some of the veggies they can have this holiday season include green beans, broccoli, carrots, and celery. These veggies are good for their muscles, nerves, and kidneys. Also, they are also packed with vitamins and minerals that benefit them in many ways.

  4. Apples: Apples are good for dogs because they help with cleaning their teeth and freshening their breath. They also contain Vitamin A and C, which help with our pup's bone growth and vision support, as well as preventing illness.

  5. Plain Pumpkin: Plain pumpkin puree is a great natural food that is great to give your pup not only during fall but all year round. This is a great stomach soother and helps them avoid constipation and diarrhea.

  6. Cranberries: These are good snacks in moderation. This natural plant is a fun snack to give to your pup. Both raw and dried are safe, but of course, raw cranberries should be cut in half to prevent the cranberries from becoming a choking hazard.


While these foods are great for humans to enjoy, some foods should be avoided:

  1. Stuffing: This goes without saying, stuffing is full of sodium and grain. Sodium is a big no-no when it comes to our fur babies. Ingesting this ingredient can lead to excessive thirst and urination, and it can cause sodium ion poisoning. Depending on your pup's allergies and diet, most of the time it may be grain-free, so giving them this grain-packed dish is a no-go for our poms.

  2. Turkey Skin: This is probably the part we enjoy the most from our whole turkey because of all the flavor it has, but it is not a safe dish for our pups. As mentioned before, spices and anything with sodium is a big no when it comes to our babies. Additionally, the fat that turkey skin contains can cause pancreatitis, which is a horrible condition where our pup’s pancreas can swell up and cause major discomfort and pain.

  3. Garlic/Onion: These are delicious ingredients for us, but harmful to our fur babies. Garlic and onion are a part of a family of plants called alliums. Alliums contain toxins that damage red blood cells. This further leads to our pups getting anemia.

  4. Mushrooms: Our pup’s body doesn't create the enzymes needed to break down some of the sugars and dietary fibers that mushrooms contain, and this can cause major discomfort that leads to an upset stomach. So, it's best to keep this out of their plate.

  5. Butter/Mashed Potatoes: Though it is safe for them to have potatoes in moderation, mashed potatoes are not recommended because they often contain salt and sugar. And what’s a good helping of mashed potatoes without butter? Unfortunately, butter has a high saturated fat content, which can lead to obesity in dogs. Obesity ultimately leads to hip and joint problems and other weight-related health issues.


Let's try and keep our fur babies safe and healthy this year! Of course, it is such a wonderful sight when we see our dogs enjoying a fun holiday meal we made for them, especially when we know what's in the dish. It is important to remain vigilant in maintaining their health and safety with dog-safe treats and foods. Offering your companion a delicious meal in moderation is the best way to keep them safe and happy this holiday season.


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