Thanksgiving is built around food, family, and gathering around the table—and if your house is anything like mine, the dogs are very aware that something special is happening in the kitchen.
The good news? Your dog can absolutely enjoy a little Thanksgiving dinner with you. You don’t need a complicated “dog recipe,” and you don’t need to cook an entirely separate meal. You just need to set aside a few simple ingredients before the butter, gravy, onions, garlic, and seasonings make their appearance.
Build Their Thanksgiving Plate
Think of your dog’s plate as a simpler version of yours.
Turkey: Plain, cooked turkey is a great source of protein. Choose boneless meat without heavily seasoned skin, gravy, or sauces.
Sweet potato: Plain cooked sweet potato is an easy holiday addition. Skip the butter, brown sugar, marshmallows, and other ingredients that turn our sweet potatoes into Thanksgiving sweet potatoes.
Green beans: Plain cooked green beans add fiber and a little crunch without adding many calories. Set some aside before making the casserole.
Pumpkin: Plain pumpkin—not pumpkin pie filling—is another dog-friendly option and a good source of fiber.
You can serve a little of each alongside your dog’s normal food or make a small Thanksgiving plate of their own. This is a holiday meal, not a complete and balanced diet, so there’s no need to overthink the proportions for one special dinner.
What Should Stay Off the Dog’s Plate?
Some Thanksgiving staples are better kept to the humans.
Skip foods containing onions, garlic, grapes or raisins, chocolate, xylitol, alcohol, cooked bones, and heavily seasoned or fatty foods. Rich foods, turkey skin, gravy, buttery casseroles, and large amounts of table scraps can also cause digestive upset—and in some dogs, a high-fat holiday meal can contribute to pancreatitis.
And remember that dogs don’t understand that Thanksgiving is a special occasion. If six different people each slip them “just a little,” that little bit can turn into a very big meal.
Keep It Simple
One of the easiest ways to include your dog is to think ahead while you’re cooking. Before seasoning the turkey, set aside a few pieces. Before turning those green beans into a casserole, save a handful. Scoop out some plain sweet potato before adding everything that makes it delicious for the humans.
That’s it.
I’m a big believer that feeding our pets well doesn’t have to mean feeding them perfectly. A holiday is a wonderful opportunity to share some fresh, whole foods with your dog without turning dinner into a nutrition project.
Progress over perfection. Feed the dog in front of you—and save them a little turkey.
Happy Thanksgiving from my pack to yours.
