The holiday season is in full swing now that we finally got Halloween out of the way (cue the collective sigh of relief from dogs who absolutely loathe wearing costumes), and it’s almost time for Thanksgiving, aka Pre-Christmas. There’s pretty much the same food, but you don’t have to go out and buy presents for others.
Not to say there’s no stress, though. Thanksgiving has been right up there on the list of Things That Cause Anxiety for a long time, especially for those given the privilege (or misfortune, if you’re like me) of hosting Thanksgiving dinner. You want to make sure all your guests are happy, and that involves making sure there’s food for everyone to enjoy.
And since dogs are a part of your family, why not include them in your Thanksgiving feast? Here are some easy ways you can make sure your pup can enjoy a post-Thanksgiving food coma just like the rest of us.
1. Give him turkey boobs.
Let’s be completely honest here — the white meat isn’t exactly the most delicious part of the bird. Sure, it might be healthier for you, but it tends to be the part that’s dryest. That’s why we drown it in gravy. Your pup won’t care about dryness when he’s inhaling shredded bits of turkey breast. Just make sure you don’t give him any of your delicious gravy. And keep an extra watchful eye out for bones! Cooked bones are a big no-no. Also, stay away from fat and skin with too much salty brine for a pup.
2. Make some pupkin pie!
Making pie this Thanksgiving? If you’re making apple, pumpkin, or sweet potato pie from scratch, you can save some of the apples (no apple cores/seeds), plain pumpkin puree (NOT the canned pumpkin pie filling, which already has sugar and spices in it. You want to avoid giving your pup sugar…he’s sweet enough as is 😉 ), or sweet potato puree to serve to your hungry doge. Or you can take it one step further and make a dog-friendly pie, using coconut flour for the pie crust for those pups who are sensitive or allergic to wheat.
3. Throw some sweet potato chips into the oven.
If you have any extra space in the oven, why not whip up some quick sweet potato chips? Not only will you be using your oven more efficiently, your dog will have some delicious and healthy Thanksgiving treats. Best part is you can eat them too! Click here for a recipe.
4. Be corny.
Before you slather butter and whatever seasoning you like on that delicious corn on the cob, reserve an ear for your adorable pup. Let it cool down, then just cut the corn right off the cob with a knife. Throw away the cob so there’s no chance your doge will choke on it.
5. Mash some taters.
Before you add all the delicious fatty butter and cream to your perfectly whipped up mashed potatoes, save some spuds for your dog. You can add some coconut oil to your dog’s mashed potatoes to make them creamier. Just make sure the potatoes are completely cooked, or you risk poisoning your pup.
6. Just make your dog a whole Thanksgiving dinner for himself, like this guy did:
Post-Thanksgiving food coma is a thing we humans celebrate, but try to avoid overdoing it with your pup. The sudden switch to people food from their everyday food could lead to some gas or, at worst, a trip to the vet that could ruin Thanksgiving faster than a burnt turkey.
If you have a pup who suffers from frequent intestinal upsets or has a sensitive tummy, you can still include him in your feast while leaving his diet as-is. BarkShop has a Thanksgiving collection that’s sure to make your pup feel grateful this holiday.
As always, watch your dog closely when introducing any new foods into his diet. If your pup shows any signs that he is unwell, contact your vet. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
