Dogs
are a part of the family, and it's only natural to want to include them
in the Thanksgiving festivities. I mean, it doesn't seem fair that
you're eating turkey with all the trimmings while they're munching down
on a bowl full of kibble. If you want to share your Thanksgiving feast
or leftovers with your dog, you totally should - you just have to do
it safely. Here's a quick breakdown on typical Thanksgiving dishes
and how they affect our furry feasters. The goal is to get them
plenty of good food without needing to go buy a larger
dog harness when they're done eating it!

Dogs
love meat, and it's good for them in moderation. If you want to give
them some of your leftover turkey, feel free, just stick to the white
meat, as it's the healthier option and your dog won't know the
difference. Also, make sure to NEVER give your dog any bones from
anything that you've cooked, especially from birds. They can splinter
and cause life-threatening injuries. We know dogs love all bones, but
this is one thing you have to be strong about, no matter how cutely they
may beg.

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberries are
great for dogs, containing tons of vitamins A, B1, B2, and C. They're
also notoriously good for urinary tracts. Cranberry sauce, on the other
hand, is often loaded with sugars and other additives that dogs really
don't need. If you're making cranberry sauce from scratch at home, give
some to the pup, but if you're eating the (admittedly delicious) canned
stuff, it's best to keep it off Fido's plate.

Vegetables

When
it comes to veggies, most are pretty great for the pooch (although if your dog is as picky as a child, they may not share this sentiment). Things like
carrots, green beans, pumpkin, and even potatoes are good in moderation.
Just make sure your dog gets their portion before you add butter or
salt or make it into a casserole. Dogs are great sous chefs when you're
chopping raw veggies, because they'll keep the ground clean and they
happily work for scraps.

Onions and other Allium
vegetables are the exception to the veggie rule. Large portions of
onions, chives, and the like can prove toxic to dogs, so you need to be
sure to keep them off your pup's plate.

Bread

Bread
is fine for dogs, but give them their portion without the butter. If
you want to sweeten it up a little for them, a little bit of meat gravy
over the top goes a long way. Just be aware that bread is essentially
the same as a treat for dogs, so don't give them more than a roll or two
or you'll risk weight gain. Even though we all love company, the
holiday bloat is one trip our dogs don't need to take with us!

Dessert

As
a rule of thumb, keep dogs away from desserts. As you know, chocolate
is bad for pups, and artificial sweeteners like Xylitol can be even
worse. If your dog does get a hold of some chocolate during all the
hustle and bustle of the day, use this handy
chocolate danger calculator to see if it's an amount you need to worry about!

Alcohol

Many
dogs love the taste of alcohol, beer especially, but please don't give
it to them. We know that you probably understand this, just be sure to
remind that one uncle who thinks it's a riot.

If you are looking to make some special holiday treats for your dog, check out our Holiday Cookbook Just for Dogs.