蜜桃视频

For most families in the United States, Thanksgiving is all about the turkey. Hours go into the roasting and basting of the bird. Then, once the Thanksgiving feast is over, there are turkey sandwiches, soups, and casseroles to make. With all of that leftover turkey, what about sharing some with our dogs, whether slipped surreptitiously under the table, or on a Thanksgiving 鈥減late鈥� of their own?

But can dogs eat turkey? Is turkey good for dogs? Are any risks to feeding dogs turkey? We鈥檒l walk through everything you need to know about turkey for dogs, from the benefits to the risks.

Can Dogs Eat Turkey?

Whether or not dogs can eat turkey depends on how the turkey is cooked. Turkey isn鈥檛 inherently toxic to dogs. It鈥檚 used as an , and is rich in protein, riboflavin, and phosphorous. When turkey is cooked plain鈥攊n other words, without added salt, fat, or seasonings鈥攖urkey can be a wholesome part of a homemade dog food diet under the guidance of your veterinarian.

That said, the turkey we eat on Thanksgiving platters is rarely cooked 鈥減lain.鈥� We rub our birds with butter or oil, and season them with all sorts of combinations of salt, pepper, herbs, and spices. Many cooks opt to stuff their turkey with onions, garlic, apples, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and more. To people eating the meal, all of these flavors, aromas, and textures can be delicious. But for our dogs, some of these seemingly healthy ingredients can actually be toxic. Even if some common Thanksgiving ingredients aren鈥檛 exactly toxic to dogs, they can still be a recipe for unpleasant digestive upset or pancreatitis.

漏 lifeonwhite.com via Getty Images

How to Safely Feed Your Dog Turkey

If you decide to feed your dog turkey, keep these tips in mind.

• Remove turkey skin. Too much fat (from the skin itself, plus whatever butter or oil was used for roasting or frying) and seasonings are dangerous for dogs. High fat content can cause pancreatitis, while all the extra spices and seasonings can irritate your dog鈥檚 stomach.
• Only feed your dog turkey meat. Pick through whatever meat portion you鈥檙e offering your dog to ensure none of the roasting aromatics are mixed in. Onions are toxic to dogs, and garlic can be toxic in large quantities.
• Feed your dog small portions of turkey meat. Talk to your vet about adding occasional food scraps into your dog鈥檚 diet before deciding to feed them turkey, especially if your dog has a preexisting health condition, like diabetes. Keeping portions small, and more like a treat, helps healthy dogs avoid any stomach upset from eating different foods than they鈥檙e used to.
• No cooked turkey bones: Make sure whatever portion of turkey you decide to feed your dog contains just meat. Ensure that there are no cooked turkey bones mixed in or still attached.

Chalabala via Getty Images

Can Dogs Eat Turkey Bones?

Cooked poultry bones are brittle. This, combined with their smaller size, makes them very dangerous for dogs. Veterinarians caution against feeding dogs cooked bones of any kind, including poultry bones, as they can cause the following problems:

• Mouth and tongue injuries
• Obstruction of the throat or intestinal tract
• Choking
• Possibly piercing stomach and intestine lining
• Constipation
• Rectal bleeding from sharp bone fragments
• Blockages that require emergency surgery

Some dog owners choose to feed their dogs raw, meaty bones, in consultation with their vet. Raw turkey necks are a common choice for this purpose. However, any raw, meaty bone carries with it a risk of exposure to bacteria like salmonella. Talk with your vet about using raw, meaty turkey bones for your dog to learn more about possible risks and benefits.

What If I Don鈥檛 Want to Share Turkey With My Dog?

There鈥檚 no rule that says you have to share turkey with your dog on Thanksgiving or on any day! In fact, many dog owners spend lots of time and effort making sure their dogs don鈥檛 beg at the table, or they specifically don鈥檛 share food from their own plates. But if you choose to give turkey to your dog, there are safe ways to do so. Be sure your dinner guests are aware of your preferences, as well.

If you鈥檇 like to include your dog in your Thanksgiving Day festivities without worrying about human food rules, you can always opt to give your dog a , , or even a celebratory plate of .

The Verdict on Turkey for Dogs

Yes, you can feed your dog turkey safely, as long as you follow the above guidelines. However, feeding table scraps to dogs on a regular basis can lead to dog obesity, which can cause a host of problems, including diabetes, hypertension, and joint stress. If your dog has an upset stomach after eating turkey, consult your vet and consider an over-the-counter dog diarrhea treatment.

If you have more questions, talk with your vet about how to safely feed turkey to your dog.