what can dogs eat on thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is a holiday of family and food, so don't leave your fur family out of the festivities! Ever wondered what dogs can eat on Thanksgiving? Learn these recipes and safe foods to give your pup a tasty thanksgiving meal this year and every year.

There are several Safe and Healthy Dog Thanksgiving foods and a few are holiday favorites:

• Turkey: Boneless and skinless white turkey meat is a yummy treat that your furry pal will love! Its a healthy snack due to its high protein and low-fat content.
• Ham: Ham has become a leading contender among alternative meats for Thanksgiving, is it safe for dogs? Yes and no. Although ham is not toxic for your dog, it is difficult for your dog to digest. Its best given as a once on special occasion - taste!
• Green Bean Casserole: If you plan on making green bean casserole this year, feel free to give your furry pal a few raw green beans. They contain iron and very few calories! Remember - onions are toxic for dogs, so do not give those leftovers into their food dish.
• Sweet Potato Casserole: Prior to mixing those nutrient-rich spuds with butter and brown sugar - a few steamed or broiled (chopped into cubes) sweet potatoes are great for canine digestive health!
• Deserts: Apple Crisp: Apple slices are a safe and healthy treat, but always be sure to set aside apple slices before baking them to give as a treat and always be sure to remove any seeds before serving.​ Pumpkin Pie: Oh My! Believe it or not, sugar-free canned pumpkin is very good for your furry friends GI tract - in small quantities. For a wonderful Thanksgiving desert treat - feel free to place a dollop of canned pumpkin (before you mix anything into it) to their food dish, while making your pumpkin pie.

SO, while we listed some favorite family staples during Thanksgiving - there are foods NOT to Feed Dogs. Here are some of the usual suspects you'll want to avoid giving to your furry friend:

1. Mashed Potatoes: Often laden with butter and cream or milk, mashed potatoes can cause upset stomach and diarrhea in dogs.
   
2. Stuffing or Turkey Dressing: Stuffing often contains onions, garlic, salt, and other spices that can be harmful to dogs. Onions and garlic should be avoided always - since they both are toxic for pets!
   
3. Corn on the Cob: Corn itself is not dangerous for dogs, but the cob of corn can be a serious choking hazard - causing long term gastrointestinal issues.
4. Turkey or Chicken Bones: Dogs love bones, but they don't know which bones are safe to play with and ones that aren't. Turkey and Chicken bones are not digestible! They pose a threat to canine digestive health and can shatter and puncture the intestinal tract, get lodged in the esophagus causing choking!
   
5. Bread Dough: Unbaked bread dough contains yeast. Yeast can be very dangerous when ingested by dogs because it emits gas as it rises (grows within the abdomen) causing a multitude of problems including "bloat." Bloat, medically known as Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) is a serious condition that requires immediate veterinary medical attention.
   
6. Pecans: Pecans, such of those used in pecan pie, can cause stomach upset in dogs when ingested in large quantities.
   
7. Sweets: Everyone should know that chocolate can be toxic to dogs, but there are other sweets that pose a risk you may not be aware of like: sugar in large quantities and artificial sweetener known as Xylitol. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that can also be (found in some peanut butters) is highly toxic to dogs and requires rapid emergency pet care!
   

Lastly, we have some Safety Tips for Thanksgiving:

• If you're having guests over, remember to advise them against feeding your furry family members their table scraps-even in small amounts. A small amount from several people can result in a large amount by the end of Thanksgiving Day!
• Ensure all your trash is disposed of in a secure place that is out of your dog's reach. Napkins, paper plates, and plastic utensils also pose a risk to dogs.
• Turkey fryers are a rise in popularity and proven to be a danger to canines. The smell of meat remnants, which are highly appealing to dogs who may want to try and get a quick lick, pose severe dangers, both internally and externally! So, always exercise caution with fryers-and never underestimate your dog's ability to get what they want.
• Always keep a close eye on your furry pal during the holidays. Guests, new smells, and opening and closing doors are very easy for your pal to sneak out, get lost, or become overwhelmed.
• Holidays are busy days of the year, don't forget to stick to your dog's routine - feed pets at their normal times and have water available throughout the day!

Take Away
Thanksgiving is a busy day, we hope this post will help your with safe and healthy snack choices for your furry family member and to know what foods should be avoided.

*To help protect your dog on this and every other day of the year, consider a pet insurance plan. A dog insurance policy can help reimburse costs for accidents, illnesses, and more. There's no better gift to your furry family member this year than a dog insurance policy that safeguards them all year long! AMTC Pet Insurance (underwritten by MetLife and/or Healthy Paws) is thankful for responsible pet owners like you.*

We wish you and your pets a healthy, happy Thanksgiving!
*Article written by the American Morkshire Terrier Club