The holidays are for families, including your pets. While your furry members deserve to be part of the festivities, the standard dinner spread often contains too much salt or fat for your pet to enjoy without stomach issues. Here are some tips to incorporate into your holiday meal prep to easily include your pet in the joy!
Protein
If turkey is on the menu for the humans of the family, it can be a great option for your pets as well. Removing a leg and roasting it without seasonings creates an easy, dedicated meal for your cat or dog. Once cooked, remove the skin and cut the meat off the bone. Cartilage and tendons can be consumed by your pets and do not need to be separated.
If you are giving your pet a section of the family’s turkey instead, offer a small portion of the breast meat from closer to the bone to avoid sections with heavy seasoning. Avoid giving your pets any pieces containing cooked bones or sections of a deep-fried turkey to keep hazards to a minimum. If your pets are already familiar with raw food, the giblets included in whole turkeys can also be offered in moderation. Larger dogs can also consume the raw wing tips of the bird, but this should always be done under supervision. Alternatively, a low-sodium turkey stock can be made from the neck, giblets, and wings to create a holiday “soup” that can be used for several days.
The same suggestions can be applied to any raw meat your family will enjoy. However, if you choose ham as your family protein, it should be given with very careful moderation, as the sodium and sulfate levels can easily exceed your pet’s daily allowance.
Sides
While cats should generally stick to the protein options, there are several vegetable sides that your dog can enjoy as well. Plain carrots, Brussels sprouts, green beans, sweet potatoes, and peas are all great additions to a dog-safe dinner plate. Vegetables should be unseasoned and boiled to be easily digested. While canned veggies are an okay substitute, make sure to choose a low or no-sodium option.
If you are planning on making deviled eggs for the family, saving one plain, hard-boiled egg can work as a perfect protein side for both dogs and cats.
Dessert
If you want to bring your pet in on the full holiday dinner experience, we can’t skip dessert!
For a pet-safe “pumpkin pie,” set aside a heaping tablespoon of plain pumpkin puree (not pre-spiced pie filling) from your own baking and mix in a tiny drop of pure maple syrup. When it’s time to make the whipped cream, set aside an unsweetened teaspoon to top the puree. Serve together as a complete dessert for cats and dogs! For a lighter option, an alternative to apple pie could be a few skinless apple cubes topped with that same sugar-free whipped cream. Cats are more likely to just lick off the cream, but the apples are perfectly safe for them to try.
If you try out these options for healthy pet holiday dinners, post your dinner plates on Instagram and tag paws_canada to share your holiday feasts!
