How to Make a Pet-Friendly Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is around the corner! It's the perfect season to enjoy great food and spend time with our family. Do you know which other family member loves food? Our pets! That's right, you guessed it... It's time to make our little loved ones the BEST Thanksgiving dinner there is. Whether it's food or treats, make these for your pet, and they'll continue to love you for a lifetime.

Important Note: NEVER use any items that have xylitol in it, which can be very dangerous for dogs.

Let's give them a full Thanksgiving dinner!

Thanksgiving Dinner For Dogs

https://thebark.com/content/thanksgiving-dinner-dogs

Ingredients 

• 3 lb/1.3 kg skinless turkey pieces (Use turkey leftovers or roast the turkey)
• 1 cup (about 6 oz/175 g) oatmeal (cooked)
• 1 lb/450 g sweet potatoes, cubed
• 2 tbsp cranberry sauce
• 4 tbsp turkey gravy (optional; to reduce the fat content, omit the gravy or substitute olive oil)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Lightly oil a roasting pan.
2. For boneless breast or thigh, cook 30–45 minutes; boned breast or thigh, 45–60 minutes; whole turkey, 1 1/2–2 hours or until the meat juices run clear when pierced with a skewer. Let cool.
3. Remove all the bones and dice the meat into large pieces.
4. If using fresh sweet potatoes, roast with the turkey for about 25–30 minutes or until tender. Let cool, then peel and dice.
5. Meanwhile, cook the oatmeal according to package instructions.
6. Mix the turkey meat, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce. If using gravy or oil, add it now and mix thoroughly. (If your dog is at all prone to pancreatitis or other fat-related upsets, omit the gravy.) 

Or maybe try this one!

Homemade Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs Recipe

https://topdogtips.com/homemade-thanksgiving-dinner-for-dogs/

Ingredients

• 3 pounds lean ground turkey
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1.5 cups of UNCOOKED rice
• 2 shredded carrots
• 3 cups chopped spinach
• 1 shredded zucchini

Directions

1. Cook the rice according to the instructions on the packaging. 

1. In a large pot, brown the turkey on medium heat, using the olive oil to keep it from sticking. Substitute coconut oil or any other dog-friendly cooking oil that you have on hand. While the turkey is cooking, crumble it with a spatula.
2. Turn the temperature to low and add the cooked rice, carrots, spinach and zucchini to the crumbled turkey. 
3. Cook on low until it is heated through and the spinach has wilted.
4. Let cool & serve!

Note: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 5 days. You can also freeze this dish to serve later. Store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

And now… it’s time for dessert!

Pumpkin Treat

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/easy-pumpkin-dog-treats/

Just in case you don't want to leave your dog out of your holiday celebrations or you're still looking for the perfect treat, here's an easy treat recipe that your dog will love.

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup pure 100 percent pumpkin
• 1 4-ounce jar pure carrot baby food
• 1 4-ounce jar pure green bean baby food (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Add all ingredients together and mix. If the batter seems wet and sticky, add a little more flour. If it seems crumbly, add a little water.
3. Scoop out a spoonful of dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet. The batter should make around 24 treats. If yours is more dry, then you can try forming the dough into shapes.
4. Optional: The green bean baby food can be added to a little bit of the dough if you would like to add a green stem onto a pumpkin shape.
5. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the edges start to brown.

Or how about this one?

Apple Asiago Dog Treats

Ingredients:

• 2 cups barley flour
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1/3 cup shredded gruyere cheese
• 1/4 cup shredded asiago cheese
• 1/3 cup sugar-free applesauce
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

1. In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients. The dough is pretty dry so add enough water for it form into dough.
2. Knead dough with hands and then place on a sheet of wax paper. 
3. Cover the dough with a second sheet of paper and start rolling.
4. Roll the dough out until it is about 1/4 inch thick.
5. Cut the dough with any shape you’re like
6. Space biscuits about a 1/2 inch apart on prepared baking sheet, (they 'don't expand) and 
7. Bake for 30 minutes.

Note: Wait at least 30 minutes before passing these off to your pooch. These puppy treats do include cheese and some dogs can not tolerate cheese.