It isnt a big mystery as to whether turkey is safe for dogs to eat or not. Spoiler alert: turkey is not only safe, but its a commonly used protein source in commercial dog foods. While preparing dinner, giving your dog pieces of turkey can be a perfectly healthy treat, but not all turkey parts are safe to give your dog. So whats a dog-owning foodie to do?.
While turkey is a common ingredient in commercial dog foods, you might be wondering if it’s safe to share your Thanksgiving turkey with your furry friend. The answer is yes, but with a few caveats.
Safe Parts of Turkey for Dogs:
- White and dark meat: Both are safe and healthy for dogs, although white meat is leaner and more protein-dense.
- Giblets: The liver, kidneys, heart, gizzard, and neck are generally safe, but cook them thoroughly before offering them to your dog. Avoid the neck due to the presence of bones.
- Turkey meal: This highly protein-dense ingredient is created by rendering fresh turkey, essentially overcooking it to remove most of the water.
Unsafe Parts of Turkey for Dogs:
- Turkey skin: High in fat, it can lead to gastrointestinal upset like pancreatitis. Additionally, any rubs, brines, or gravies used in cooking could be toxic to dogs.
- Cooked turkey bones: These can splinter and cause choking hazards or intestinal perforation.
- Garlic and onion: Commonly used in savory cooking, these ingredients are toxic to dogs and can lead to anemia.
Additional Tips:
- Moderation is key: Even safe parts of turkey should be offered in moderation as a treat, not a regular part of your dog’s diet.
- Cut into small pieces: This makes it easier for your dog to chew and digest.
- Introduce new foods gradually: To avoid stomach upset, start with a small amount of turkey and monitor your dog for any adverse reactions.
- Consult your veterinarian: If you have any concerns about feeding turkey to your dog, talk to your veterinarian for personalized advice.
Alternatives to Turkey:
- Sweet potatoes: A healthy and delicious treat for dogs.
- Vegetables: Offer a variety of dog-safe vegetables like carrots, green beans, and broccoli.
- Pumpkin (unsweetened): A good source of fiber and vitamins.
- Peanut butter (unsweetened and Xylitol-free): A tasty and protein-rich treat.
- Cheese (small amounts): A good source of calcium.
Remember, always avoid feeding your dog anything seasoned with butter, sugar garlic or onions.
By following these guidelines, you can safely share the Thanksgiving spirit with your canine companion.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can dogs have raw turkey liver?
While raw turkey liver is safe for dogs, it’s important to source it from a reputable butcher and ensure it’s fresh and free from parasites. Additionally, some dogs may be more sensitive to raw meat than others, so it’s best to consult your veterinarian before offering raw turkey liver to your dog.
Can dogs eat turkey bones?
No, cooked turkey bones are a choking hazard and can splinter, potentially causing intestinal perforation.
Can dogs eat turkey skin?
Turkey skin is high in fat and can lead to gastrointestinal upset. Additionally, any seasonings or sauces used in cooking could be toxic to dogs.
Can dogs eat turkey giblets?
Yes, turkey giblets are safe for dogs, but cook them thoroughly before offering them to your dog. Avoid the neck due to the presence of bones
Can dogs eat turkey with gravy?
Gravy often contains ingredients that are harmful to dogs, such as onions and garlic. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with gravy.
Can dogs eat turkey stuffing?
Stuffing often contains ingredients that are harmful to dogs, such as onions, garlic, and bread. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey stuffing.
Can dogs eat turkey with cranberry sauce?
Cranberries are safe for dogs in moderation, but cranberry sauce often contains added sugar, which is not good for dogs. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with cranberry sauce.
Can dogs eat turkey with sweet potatoes?
Sweet potatoes are a healthy and delicious treat for dogs. You can offer your dog cooked or mashed sweet potatoes as a Thanksgiving treat.
Can dogs eat turkey with pumpkin?
Pumpkin (unsweetened) is a good source of fiber and vitamins. You can offer your dog a small amount of cooked or canned pumpkin as a Thanksgiving treat.
Can dogs eat turkey with cheese?
Cheese is a good source of calcium, but it should be offered in moderation. You can give your dog a small piece of cheese as a Thanksgiving treat.
Can dogs eat turkey with peanut butter?
Peanut butter (unsweetened and Xylitol-free) is a tasty and protein-rich treat. You can give your dog a small amount of peanut butter as a Thanksgiving treat.
Can dogs eat turkey with vegetables?
You can offer your dog a variety of dog-safe vegetables like carrots, green beans, and broccoli as a Thanksgiving treat.
Can dogs eat turkey with bread?
Bread is not good for dogs and can cause digestive upset. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with bread.
Can dogs eat turkey with butter?
Butter is high in fat and can cause digestive upset. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with butter.
Can dogs eat turkey with sugar?
Sugar is not good for dogs and can lead to weight gain and other health problems. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with sugar.
Can dogs eat turkey with garlic?
Garlic is toxic to dogs and can cause anemia. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with garlic.
Can dogs eat turkey with onions?
Onions are toxic to dogs and can cause anemia. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with onions.
Can dogs eat turkey with salt?
Too much salt can be harmful to dogs, so it’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with excessive salt.
Can dogs eat turkey with pepper?
Pepper is not toxic to dogs, but it can irritate their stomachs. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with pepper.
Can dogs eat turkey with spices?
Many spices are not safe for dogs, so it’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with spices.
Can dogs eat turkey with herbs?
Some herbs are safe for dogs, while others are not. It’s best to consult with your veterinarian before feeding your dog turkey with herbs.
Can dogs eat turkey with gravy?
Gravy often contains ingredients that are harmful to dogs, such as onions and garlic. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with gravy.
Can dogs eat turkey with stuffing?
Stuffing often contains ingredients that are harmful to dogs, such as onions, garlic, and bread. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey stuffing.
Can dogs eat turkey with cranberry sauce?
Cranberries are safe for dogs in moderation, but cranberry sauce often contains added sugar, which is not good for dogs. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with cranberry sauce.
Can dogs eat turkey with sweet potatoes?
Sweet potatoes are a healthy and delicious treat for dogs. You can offer your dog cooked or mashed sweet potatoes as a Thanksgiving treat.
Can dogs eat turkey with pumpkin?
Pumpkin (unsweetened) is a good source of fiber and vitamins. You can offer your dog a small amount of cooked or canned pumpkin as a Thanksgiving treat.
Can dogs eat turkey with cheese?
Cheese is a good source of calcium, but it should be offered in moderation. You can give your dog a small piece of cheese as a Thanksgiving treat.
Can dogs eat turkey with peanut butter?
Peanut butter (unsweetened and Xylitol-free) is a tasty and protein-rich treat. You can give your dog a small amount of peanut butter as a Thanksgiving treat.
Can dogs eat turkey with vegetables?
You can offer your dog a variety of dog-safe vegetables like carrots, green beans, and broccoli as a Thanksgiving treat.
Can dogs eat turkey with bread?
Bread is not good for dogs and can cause digestive upset. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with bread.
Can dogs eat turkey with butter?
Butter is high in fat and can cause digestive upset. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with butter.
Can dogs eat turkey with sugar?
Sugar is not good for dogs and can lead to weight gain and other health problems. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with sugar.
Can dogs eat turkey with garlic?
Garlic is toxic to dogs and can cause anemia. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with garlic.
Can dogs eat turkey with onions?
Onions are toxic to dogs and can cause anemia. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with onions.
Can dogs eat turkey with salt?
Too much salt can be harmful to dogs, so it’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with excessive salt.
Can dogs eat turkey with pepper?
Pepper is not toxic to dogs, but it can irritate their stomachs. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with pepper.
Can dogs eat turkey with spices?
Many spices are not safe for dogs, so it’s best to avoid feeding your dog turkey with spices.
Can dogs eat turkey with herbs?
Some herbs are safe for dogs, while others are not. It’s best to consult with your veterinarian before feeding your dog turkey with herbs.
Turkey as a Protein Source
Turkey is a highly digestible protein source for dogs. It has different macronutrients, such as protein, carbs, and fats (a nutritional component needed in large amounts). It also contains micronutrients in the form of vitamins and minerals. Although turkey and chicken are of comparable quality, turkey may have slightly higher concentrations of some vitamins and minerals.
Some integrative practitioners believe that chicken is a hot protein and turkey is a cold protein. In integrative medicine terms, this essentially means turkey isnt as inflammatory as chicken. Therefore, if your dog has an inflammatory disease, whether it be acute or chronic—for example, gastrointestinal distress, allergies to the environment, etc.— Some people believe that since turkey won’t worsen any existing inflammation in the body, it is a better protein than chicken. It should be noted, though, that chicken is the most common food allergen in dogs. Because chicken and turkey are so similar, your dog’s allergy to one could also apply to the other, depending on how sensitive their immune system is.
Parts That Are Safe for Dogs
White meat and dark meat are both safe and healthy for your dog. However, the white meat is leaner and is more protein-dense than the dark meat portions. Therefore, even though they are both safe and healthy, white meat is thought to be marginally healthier than dark meat. Even healthier, though is something called turkey meal. This is made from fresh turkey that has been rendered—a fancy cooking term for purposefully overcooking—until the majority of the water is cooked off, leaving behind an exceptionally high protein product.
Store-bought turkeys frequently come with giblets, which can include the liver, kidneys, heart, gizzard, and neck. When fully cooked, the majority of these extras are safe for your dog to consume (as long as no one else will notice). The only area that is not advised for your dog is the neck because it contains bones. Giving your dog raw giblets is not advised, even if they are currently fed a raw meat diet. Alternatively, give them a quick wash with water, then boil them for five to ten minutes, or sear them for a few minutes on each side over the stove. However, as with any new food, if you add too much too soon, your dog may experience a gastrointestinal flare-up. Thus, if you decide to feed your dog turkey giblets, chop them up into small pieces and give them to him in small portions over several days as special treats.