3 Best Thanksgiving Recipes for Dogs

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Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and you don’t want to exclude your dog from festivities. However, a traditional Thanksgiving feast might not be safe for your dog. Besides, feeding table scraps to your dog is never a good idea. The good news is that there are different things you can prepare at home that are safe for you and your dog. You can share a meal or prepare something for your family, and since dogs are a part of the family, it is a great idea to include them.

Dangerous Thanksgiving dinner ingredients

If you thought of just giving your dog something from your Thanksgiving dinner table, you should keep in mind that there are ingredients dogs can’t eat. You can’t risk your dog’s health and simply give them anything you’d like. Here are some things you can find on the Thanksgiving dinner table but should avoid giving to your dog.

Chocolate

There are different desserts you might prepare for your family that contains chocolate. This is absolutely off-limits to dogs. Chocolate is toxic to them, and the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is. You can read more about it here - What to do if my dog ate chocolate?

Grapes or raisins

Grapes and raisins are highly toxic to dogs. They can cause fatal kidney failure. Vets don’t quite understand why this happens or how the grapes affect the dog’s kidneys, but it still happens. There are different pastries and salads that can contain grapes or raisins, so make sure your dog doesn’t eat them.

Ham

Ham might be delicious to our dogs, but that doesn’t mean you should give it to them. Ham contains a lot of salt and fats, which can lead to sodium toxicity, vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis in dogs.

Bones

Thanksgiving dinner will most likely include turkey, and that means there will be left-over turkey bones. Do not be tempted to give them to your dog. Cooked bones can splinter easily and can perforate the dog’s intestines.

Stuffing

The stuffing might be the most delicious part of the Thanksgiving dinner, but your dog shouldn’t try it. The stuffing’s recipe includes toxic and deadly things to dogs, like onions, scallions, and garlic.

Thanksgiving recipes safe for dogs

If you’re anything like us and don’t want to leave your dog out of the Thanksgiving dinner, there are dog-safe recipes you can prepare. These recipes will include things that are not only safe for dogs to eat, but are also beneficial and delicious. If you decide to try one of them out, you can be sure your dog will absolutely enjoy their Thanksgiving dinner. Here are our favorite Thanksgiving recipes for dogs;

1. Doggo Pumpkin Pie

Let’s go the other way around and start with a dessert. Pumpkin is very healthy and beneficial for dogs, and preparing a doggo pumpkin pie is a great idea. Here’s how to prepare it safely;

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup whole oat oatmeal
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 3 to 4 tbsp. water
• Canned pumpkin
• Greek yogurt (optional)

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Directions

Preheat the oven to 375. Add oatmeal and flour and mix. Add applesauce, water, and mix everything. Roll the dough and cut three 3-inch circles. Place the circles in the muffin pan and bake for 8 minutes to form crusts. Fill the cooled shells with pumpkin and top it with Greek yogurt.

2. Dog meatballs

The usual Thanksgiving dinner contains turkey, stuffing, potatoes, green beans, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, but your dog is not limited to this. You can get a bit creative and still include some of the ingredients you can find on a Thanksgiving table, and roll them in dog meatballs. Here’s how to prepare this Thanksgiving recipe for your dog;

Ingredients

• 1 Pound of Ground Turkey
• 1/2 cup of chopped cranberries
• 1 Cup of green beans (drained)
• 1 Cup of Bread Crumbs

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Directions

Preheat the oven to 325. Place all the ingredients in a bowl, but leave half of the bread crumbs. Mix everything. As you mix, add the rest of the bread crumbs slowly. Make sure everything sticks well together. Take the mixture and roll it into balls. Place the meatballs on the baking sheet and bake for 25 - 30 minutes. Make sure your dog can’t eat a meatball in one bite. Make them large enough, so they have to chew. It is the best way to avoid choking.

3. Thanksgiving dog loaf

We love meatloaf, and we are sure your dog will appreciate the Thanksgiving loaf you will prepare for them. This is another excellent “main course” meal for your dog. If you prepare this correctly, the dog will get many beneficial nutrients from meat and veggies. However, make sure you don’t include veggies dogs can’t eat. Leave spices out of this recipe. Spices are for humans, and your dog will enjoy the pure taste of meat and veggies. Here’s what you’ll need;

Ingredients

• Chopped or ground turkey
• Peas
• Green beans
• Carrots
• Celery, grated
• Apple, grated
• Rolled oats
• Chicken or turkey stock
• 1 egg, beaten

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Directions

Preheat the oven to 350. Place all the ingredients in a bowl and start mixing. Make sure the ingredients are evenly spread. Roll the mixture in a loaf shape and place it on a non-stick baking dish. Place in the preheated oven, and bake for 30 minutes. You can check the loaf by sticking a toothpick in it. When the toothpick comes out clean from the center, the loaf is done. Let it cool and serve.

World Dog Finder team