Pretty soon we’ll be celebrating another holiday that, in many homes, features a turkey. This article explains that turkey is safe for dogs to enjoy. (It’s those side dishes you need to keep them away from.)
From Dog Time
By Beth Meadows
The short answer is yes. Dogs can eat turkey. But this comes with a few caveats. Dogs can usually eat turkey unless they have medical conditions like allergies, and you must remove any bones from the meat beforehand. You shouldn’t feed your dog seasoned turkey, as many kinds of seasoning can be toxic or harmful for dogs. So unless you’re one of those people who doesn’t believe in seasoning meat before or during cooking, it’s probably best not to give your dog Thanksgiving turkey. There is also the matter of the contents of the stuffing you’ve put in your bird while cooking. Onions can be toxic for dogs, and many herbs and oils can cause various digestive issues as well.
You should ask your veterinarian before giving your dog turkey or any other kinds of human foods. Even foods that are healthy for dogs should be given in moderation and not interfere with their regular diet. Here are a few things you should know about feeding your dog turkey.
How Should You Feed Your Dog Turkey?
If you’re going to give your dog turkey, make sure to forego giving them the skin as that is where a lot of the seasoning will be contained. The fat can also cause pancreatitis. It should also go without saying, but if your turkey is fried, do not give it to your dog. Fried foods are not even good for us, so giving them to your dog is only going to offer a double dose of your troubles.
Your best choice would be to go with the lean meat of the turkey for your dog, or the “white meat.” Avoiding the legs is also important as this area tends to be especially fatty for the bird.
Watch Out For Bones
As always, never give your dog bones from the turkey. Bones from birds such as turkey, chicken, and duck are fragile and splinter easily, especially when cooked. Feeding these to your dog can cause severe issues as they are often known to splinter in either the throat or in the digestive tract, which can lead to serious pain and bleeding for your dog.
Overall, turkey is actually a very common ingredient for multiple brands of dog food, so feeding it to your dog is perfectly fine. Turkey is even common in treats. My dog loves the raw freezer dried turkey bites I get at a local pet store–probably a little too much. However, they’re perfect for him and bite size for almost any dog.
