How to Have the Best Thanksgiving With Your Dog

Thanksgiving is all about gathering with the ones you love most - including your beloved four-legged best friend! If you’re wondering how best to include your pooch in the party, we’ve got you covered with a list of safe and unsafe Thanksgiving foods, Thanksgiving toys you can gift your dog, and awesome costumes to help everyone get into the spirit of the holiday!

Safe and Unsafe Foods

The rules of what’s safe and what’s unsafe for your dog to eat can be summed up like this: Almost anything is safe as long as it’s prepared without any seasoning or spices.

Foods like turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans and so on are safe - and even healthy - for your dog. Just make sure to set some aside before dousing it in butter, salt and the works. Here’s a more complete list of foods to avoid, and foods that are okay to share.

Safe Foods

Turkey

We know you’re cooking your turkey all at once, so in this case it’s not about setting some aside beforehand. Get some meat close to the bone for your dog (but NO bones). If you have a dog with low kidney function, skip turkey altogether.
Sweet potatoes

These are a great source of dietary fiber! Just set some aside after boiling, roasting or steaming.
Potatoes

Boiled or baked, these can be a delicious treat for your pup!
Apples

Let Fido enjoy an apple while you dig into apple pie. Just make sure to cut out the core entirely - apple seeds can be toxic for dogs.
Green beans and peas

Also a great source of vitamins and fiber!
Pumpkin

Plain pumpkin can be beneficial to a dog’s digestive health. It also has benefits for dogs’ skin and coat. Make sure to serve plain canned pumpkin and not canned pumpkin pie mix.
Carrots

Dogs love the crunch and taste of carrots! However, carrots are high in sugar. If your dog is diabetic, skip this veggie.

Foods to Avoid

Turkey bones, skin or gravy

Turkey bones are a choking hazard, and gravy and turkey skin are too fatty and could cause pancreatitis.
Stuffing
Mashed potatoes, creamed peas, etc.

Remember what we said about no seasoning? Some herbs and spices can be harmful to dogs, and the high fat content of butter, cream and whatever else you add to Thanksgiving side dishes can be dangerous for your dog’s health.
Alcohol

We know we don’t have to explain this one.
Raisins or grapes

These are toxic and can cause kidney failure.
Onions, scallions, and garlic

Members of the allium family, it adds flavor or a pretty garnish to your table but skip adding any to your dog’s dish.
Ham

If you’re one of those families that does ham instead of turkey, that’s fine - just not for Fido.
Yeast dough

If you have a sneaky pup, make sure to get your rolls in a safe place if you leave them out to rise!

Make sure to tell your two-legged guests to not give in to any begging from your four-legged friends. If your dog does ingest anything they shouldn’t, get help right away.

If you want to go the extra mile for your dog, you can prepare a special Thanksgiving treat for them. Or, just buy a special treat from Wag N' Wash and save yourself the trouble - you’re already doing a lot!

Get in the Spirit with Cute Costumes and Fun Toys

There’s only one thing cuter than your dog, and that’s your dog in a costume! We admit, we’re obsessed. Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving-themed dog costumes:

Turkey costume - Of course this is No. 1! Dress up your pooch as the main event (because, let’s be real. They are.)

Turkey leg headpiece - We can’t handle how hilariously adorable this is! Not every dog loves wearing stuff on their head, but you can at least get them to do it for the ‘gram!

Personalized bandana - If your dog isn’t the costume type, a cute bandana will still help them look fun and festive.

Finally, give your dog something fun to occupy themselves with while you’re in a food coma after dinner. To keep with the theme of Thanksgiving, we recommend picking up plush or rubber squeaky toys resembling turkeys or turkey legs. Pumpkins or carrots would also be perfect for the holiday!

You can find all the themed treats and toys your dog desires at Wag N' Wash. Make Thanksgiving special for you and Fido with a quick shopping trip - and let Wag N' Wash take making the holiday special for your pooch one less thing you have to worry about.

Happy Thanksgiving! With these tips, we know it will be paw-fect. Stop into Wag N' Wash today to find everything you need for your pets - whether it’s for the holidays or not!

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