Believe it or not, it is almost Thanksgiving! This food-centric holiday is notorious for overindulgence, and that can be true for our four-legged friends, too! From family members sneaking scraps to the dog, to overly tempting dishes getting left on easy-to-reach counters, dogs can easily end up “overindulging.” Usually this results in an upset tummy or even a case of pancreatitis.
Instead of table scraps, why not make your dog a Turkey Day feast of their own? Healthy, nutritious, and a fun little treat, this Thanksgiving dinner for dogs utilizes ingredients you probably already have on hand for your own Thanksgiving feast. It is easy to put together, and you can even serve part of it in a Kong or other stuffable toy if you need to occupy your pup while guests are over.
Keep in mind that even though all of these items are healthy and dog safe, they could still upset your pup’s tummy. Depending on how sensitive your dog is, ANY food outside their usual dinner can cause digestive upset. So, if you know your dog has a sensitive stomach, or you aren’t sure how your dog may react to these food items, you can always add just one or two of these ingredients to their usual meals, or just skip it altogether. At the end of the day, your pup’s health should be your top priority.
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But Why Not Table Scraps?
Not-so-fun fact: lots of dogs end up at the vet’s office on the day after Thanksgiving each year due to pancreatitis— an inflammation of the pancreas, commonly caused by a fatty meal (like table scraps). Although many Thanksgiving foods are safe and healthy for dogs, the way we prepare those foods can make them too rich or even toxic to our furry family members––salt in the turkey, onions in the gravy, raisins in the stuffing, and so on. Sweet potatoes, for example, are a wonderful source of fiber for dogs; but, mixed with butter and brown sugar, sweet potatoes can easily trigger a case of pancreatitis. Similarly, raw turkey bones, like necks, are a great edible chew for dogs. Raw edible bones help clean teeth and provide calcium and phosphorous—both important minerals in a dog’s daily diet. Once cooked, however, they soften and become a choking hazard. This is why it’s often easier to just set aside your dog’s own meal rather than feeding them scraps from your dinner.
In addition to posing a serious hazard to your dog’s health, feeding table scraps also creates unwanted behaviors like begging, pestering guests, counter surfing, etc. Because table scraps like turkey meat are such a high value reward, you are powerfully reinforcing these types of behaviors. That makes these behaviors particularly difficult to undo, so it’s much better if they are never established in the first place.
Instead of feeding table scraps, make your dog their own Thanksgiving feast that is safe, healthy, and can be used to reward GOOD behavior—like quiet time in their crate, or NOT bothering guests while eating.
Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs Recipe
This recipe is based on the principles of a raw food diet. If your dog is currently fed a kibble diet, keep in mind that this Thanksgiving dinner for dogs might be too rich to feed in its entirety. You can always add just one or two items to their kibble (a dollop of pumpkin puree, a few bites of turkey, etc), or stuff a few ingredients into a toy to keep your dog occupied. See the “Other Options for Assembly” section for suggestions.
A raw food diet is calculated based on a dog’s body weight. Here is an approximate body weight to food amount for a raw food diet:
- 10 lbs –> 3.2 oz
- 20 lbs –> 6.4 oz
- 30 lbs —> 9.6 oz
- 40 lbs –>12.8 oz
- 50 lbs –> 16 oz
- 60 lbs –> 19.2 oz
- 70 lbs –> 22.4 oz
- 80 lbs –> 25.6 oz
- 90 lbs –> 28.8 oz
- 100 lbs –> 32 oz
Rather than using exact amounts for ingredients, I use percentages to show the ratios of each ingredient. These ratios are guidelines and do not have to be followed perfectly. Use your best judgement for how much to feed, whether you want to provide a “full meal” or just a few special ingredients, and err on the side of too little rather than too much. If you have any questions, I encourage you to ask your vet.
Finally, this feast is not a perfectly balanced meal. I mean, is YOUR Thanksgiving dinner perfectly balanced? Probably not. What that means is this Thanksgiving dinner for dogs can be fed one day without issue, but do not use this recipe as a meal replacement. If you are interested in switching your dog to a raw food diet, I encourage you to check out Perfectly Rawsome as a start.
Ingredients
- 70% Raw Turkey Meat, boneless or ground (use the less desirable pieces like gizzard and/or heart, AKA turkey giblets, for more nutrition)
- 5% raw turkey liver (also part of turkey giblets)
- 10% Raw Turkey neck or feet (sub chicken neck or feet for smaller dogs)
- 5% Plain, steamed sweet potato or pumpkin (can use unsweetened canned puree)
- 5% Spinach, lightly steamed
- 2 % Pumpkin Seeds, ground
- 1% Fresh or dried cranberries, unsweetened (NOT RAISINS)
- 2% Raw/unsweetened kefir
- Dog-friendly bone broth, optional topper
NOTE: Giblets, which include gizzard, neck, liver, and heart, are accessible at many grocery stores!
Assembly
- Combine sweet potato and/or pumpkin, spinach, pumpkin seeds, and cranberries in a food processor and blend until smooth. Add bone broth or kefir (or water) as needed to achieve an even consistency.
- In your dog’s bowl, combine the turkey meat, liver, and edible bones. Add the pureed sweet potato mixture and ground pumpkin seeds, and top with kefir and/or bone broth.
- Feed in an area that can be easily sanitized––i.e. outside, your dog’s crate, or a floor that can be mopped. Don’t let your dog drag raw meat around your carpet, up onto your couch, etc. After your dog has eaten, be sure to thoroughly clean the bowl and surrounding area.
Other Options for Assembly
- Mix together pumpkin, kefir, and cranberries. Put into a classic Kong and FREEZE.
- Smear pureed sweet potato/pumpkin onto a LickiMat for your dog to enjoy.
- Mix raw turkey giblets (gizzard, heart, neck, and liver) with kibble.
- Add spinach and sweet potato/pumpkin to kibble
- Use bone broth or kefir as a meal topper
- Give your dog raw edible bones to crunch on
