It's not surprising that pet owners want to include their pets in the festivities. Learn how to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for dogs and cats. Thanksgiving is a fine time to reflect on those things that enrich our lives. For me, at least, pets are always near the top of my thank-you list. Pets give us so much and ask for so little in return!
And so it’s not surprising that pet owners feel inclined to include their pets in the holiday festivities. Preparing a Thanksgiving dinner for dogs and cats, it turns out, isn’t an outrageous idea.
For example, Three Dog Bakery has offered a $20 feast for canines that includes Lamb Wellington, carrots, spinach dip and pumpkin pie.
A Virginia dog bakery called Barkley Square has put out similar holiday meals, and the owner boasted, “The dogs just love them, and their humans like the fact that their canine buddy can join in the holiday feasting.”
Also, Wag Hotels, a luxury kennel in California, has offered a gourmet Thanksgiving menu created especially for dogs staying there during the holiday. Pooches could eat hand-pulled turkey with a light glaze, honey yams, apple/cranberry stuffing, green beans and pumpkin pudding for dessert.
A spokeswoman declared, “People don’t want to feel guilty that they’re having a fabulous meal and their dog is not.”
It’s true that you can pamper your pet, but Thanksgiving dinner need not be cooked by a master chef or be particularly extravagant. In this article, I will give you some pointers on how to prepare a simple, safe meal for dogs and cats.
Let’s Talk Safety
First, a word of caution. Thanksgiving dinner as we know it — you know, the stuff you and your family over-indulge in, like succulent turkey skin, rich gravy, super-fatty ham bones, sweet chocolate, wine-drenched sauce and more — sorry, but none of it is safe for pets. In fact, here’s what Casandria Smith, chief veterinarian with Los Angeles Animal Services, says:
“Veterinarians experience an increased number of office calls due to digestive problems after the holidays because humans invite their animals to celebrate with high fat meals.”
Turkey bones can splinter and block your pet’s intestinal tract. Not to mention, if you leave food out for too long and then allow your dog or cat to eat it, you’re risking salmonella food poisoning. (Always keep the ASPCA’s poison control center contact info nearby: 888-426-4435.)
There's more about Thanksgiving food safety...Tune in for more info later this week!