9 Thanksgiving Foods That Are Safe to Share with Your Dog

There's no reason to banish Bowser from the Thanksgiving table! There are traditional meal items that your dog can indulge in, too.

Every Thanksgiving, North Americans are faced with worries as big as the feast. Will we survive another visit from our in-laws? Will our favorite football team stop breaking our hearts and finally win a game? One thing that should not be on our mind, however, is whether our pets are at risk.

Here are the safest foods (in small, treat-size portions, of course) that are safe for our best friends off the Thanksgiving menu.

Turkey: Cooked poultry bones can easily break and may get stuck in your pets' throats or bruise their stomachs, so if your pooch wants some extra protein on their plate, stick to white-meat turkey with no skin or bones ONLY. 

Yummy Yams: Although your favorite version may be decked out with caramelized brown sugar and marshmallows, hold the sweets when you serve them to your sweetie pie. Plain yams are rich, delicious and filled with fiber.

Apple Slices: Raw apple slices are a great way to hold your pet over until the main course. (And make sure Fido remembers to eat his fruit!) Hold the pie, please.

Mashed Potatoes: Without the gravy and butter, please! Fatty foods can cause inflammation of the pancreas, but it is OK to serve up some plain mashed potatoes without the skin for your pooch.

Corn: Give your pooch a few kernels of corn and the carbs will keep them from dozing off before you finish your meal! Who knew corn could be a canine energy-booster?

Don’t Forget the Cranberries: While humans may disagree whether gelatin or sauce recipes are best, dogs know they both taste great! Serve your dog a small amount — watch the sugar content — and they’ll get a tasty dose of vitamin C and antioxidants.

Stuffing: Everyone’s favorite side dish is also okay for pooches to nibble on. Just make sure their serving of your famous stuffing has absolutely no onions, garlic or strong herbs — especially sage — in it. Best to give a taste of the plain batch you make for picky Aunt Edna.

Vegetables: Make sure your pet leaves room for veggies on their plate. Carrots, broccoli or string beans are nutrient-packed and will keep your pet healthy. Keep it simple by steaming them plain, without seasoning or salt.

Pumpkin: Does your pooch have a sweet tooth? Give them plain cooked or canned pumpkin instead of a slice of that pumpkin pie or pie filling.

Dogsters, what would you add to this list?

This article first ran on our friend site, Pawnation. See more recent stories from that site:

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