Nov 01, 2021 | By, For Pet's Sake
Cooking turkey that is safe for your dog to eat
You’ve seen how bland the dry kibble looks in your pet’s bowl. The label says it tastes like chicken, lamb, or salmon, but it certainly doesn’t look or smell like that. Wet food is a little more tempting and realistic to your pet; however, it’s still not the same as a piece of juicy meat that you put on your plate.
Their begging eyes might tempt you during the holiday season, especially because of all the delicious smells coming from the traditional dishes you’re making in the kitchen. One of those is turkey. As most meats do, turkey will probably cause your pet to start drooling all over the floor in anticipation of a slice falling from the plate.
Plain turkey is perfectly fine and won’t make your dog sick. Turkey is loaded with nutrients, such as protein, riboflavin, and phosphorous, which means it’s the same as any formulated blend of protein-based food you might find at the pet store. Think of it as feeding your dog plain chicken or salmon. It’s already in their dry or wet food, so it’s part of their regular diet.
When you start adding extra ingredients to the turkey, you risk making your dog ill. In fact, you’re often making dishes unhealthier for yourself when you include additives, preservatives, and artificial flavors. Oil, gravy, and stuffing are all off-limits for pets.
Garlic and onions are considered healthy for humans, but if you add these to your turkey, do not share with your dog because it could lead to digestive problems, fainting, vomiting, dehydration, or pancreatitis.
Before you feed your dog their turkey, remember to remove the skin to avoid digestive problems and the bones to prevent choking. Allowing your dog to chew on the bones might seem like a good idea, but these smaller poultry bones can be sharp and easy to swallow. Stick with the store-bought bones, and always supervise your dog to make sure they don’t chew too quickly and eat a large chunk that could get lodged in their throat.
As you’re probably aware, cooking gets messy, especially when you’re preparing food for larger groups of people. Small fragments of food and pinches of spice can fall to the floor where your dog will sniff and lick whatever they find. Sometimes, it doesn’t take much to sicken your pet, so try to clean as you go and watch what you’re doing in the kitchen.
If all of this sounds too stressful, you can always give your dog some pumpkin, green beans, or sweet potatoes, all of which are easy to serve and have plenty of nutrients. You might also set them up with their favorite toys in another room while you cook so you can focus on your culinary creations without worrying about your pet’s well-being.
Have a question about pet health? Want to become the best possible pet parent? Find helpful tips, reminders, and insight to giving your furry friend the best possible care with For Pet’s Sake! Learn more at drdevonsmith.com.
