Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to spend with family and friends. It’s easy to get caught up welcoming family and cooking that you forget all about making the day special for your pet. That’s why we’ve put together our guide for a Happy Pet Thanksgiving! A Happy Pet Thanksgiving means keeping your pet safe, occupied with fun games and toys and, of course, well fed! So get your pet ready for the best Thanksgiving EVER!
Since safety always comes first let’s start off with our safety tips:
Cooked Bones — Whether your bird is goose, turkey or duck, do not give the bones to your dogs. Cooked bones are brittle and sharp and can damage your pet’s intestines.
Keep dogs out of the kitchen– Often times dogs can get underfoot, especially when food is the star of the show. The last thing you want is to trip over them or, heaven forbid, spill or drop something hot on them! A quick fix is to use a baby gate to keep pets in their pet-friendly zone.
Check ID — Holiday stress can cause pets to run amok and with family members coming and going it’s easy for your pet to get out and take its own vacation. Check your pet’s ID tag and make sure their contact information is up to date. If you’re traveling make sure the number listed on the ID tag is a cell phone, so you’re able to receive calls when you are away from home.
Secure the trash — After the big meal, you may want to just plop on the couch and relax. Before you do, take a few minutes to survey your home so that anything that still needs to be thrown out is, and that all trash receptacles are shut tight. Cats and dogs can easily jump on a countertop to enjoy a meal of their own.
Now that your pet is safe, let’s move on to the fun! Keeping your pet busy with games and toys will help them stay out of trouble and work up an appetite. Here is how to help your pet have an active and fun day…
Let them join in the games! — If you’re the type of family that has an annual football game, let your dog join in. Take your dog to the park and play with the family and get some fresh air!
Got Toys?—Toys are always the answer! Take your pet’s mind off the turkey by stocking up on new toys. Our favorite for occupying dogs is the Kong with some peanut butter inside or some catnip toys for kitties.
A good old fashion walk — A dog who’s been out on a long walk or who has fetched the ball a zillion times is more likely to be relaxed during Thanksgiving dinner. If you don’t have time, consider getting a dog walker or put the kids to work!
Now on to the main attraction — the food! As we said in the safety portion of our guide, feeding your pet people food can be dangerous and hazardous to their health. But there are plenty of pet-friendly recipes that can help your pet be part of the celebration. Here is one of our favorite recipes for both dogs and cats…
Thanksgiving Turkey Loafs:
1 pound ground turkey
1 cup thawed frozen peas and carrots
1/2 cup cooked quinoa or rice
2 eggs
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease 1 jumbo six-cup muffin tin. In a large bowl, using your hands, mix all of the ingredients thoroughly. Fill each muffin cup with the meat mixture and bake until the tops are browned, about 40 minutes. (You can wrap and refrigerate the cooked loaves for up to 3 days or freeze them for up to 2 months.) Follow our guide for Happy Pet Thanksgiving and your pet will be safe, have fun and have a turkey belly at the end of the day!
