Hey there, pet parents! The holidays are here, which means it’s time to stuff our faces with turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and other delicious dishes and tasty treats! While the Thanksgiving feast is meant for humans, we know your furry family members are eyeing the table too.
But before you give in to those puppy dog eyes or sad meows, make sure what you’re offering won’t make them sick. As much as you want to indulge your pets, some human foods can be downright dangerous for them. Hence, you should check out what thanksgiving food can dogs eat before preparing any special dish for them.
But as a pet parent to a golden retriever called Bruno, I know how difficult it is to leave our furbabies out of the Thanksgiving feast. So I am here to help. In this blog article, I have included some healthy Thanksgiving recipes for pets so that you can spoil them rotten this festive season.
Safe And Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes For Pets
We scoured the web and tapped into our inner Julia Child to find four safe, delicious, and pet-approved recipes you can whip up for your cats and dogs this Thanksgiving. Your pets may not be able to join in on the family dinner, but they’ll certainly feel the love when you give them their very own Thanksgiving feast using the recipes given below:
Turkey And Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Your pooch will go wild for these turkey and sweet potato dog treats. They’re filled with healthy ingredients like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and flax seed meal. And the turkey provides lean protein to keep your pup energized.
To make the treats, you’ll need:
- 1 lb ground turkey (make sure it’s plain, with no seasonings)
- 1 cup mashed sweet potato
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup flax seed meal
- 1 egg
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, sweet potato, pumpkin, flax seed meal, and egg. Mix well until evenly incorporated.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for about 25 minutes, until the treats are firm and lightly browned.
Let cool completely before serving to your pup. You can give them to your dogs as treats to keep them occupied or as dog thanksgiving meal topper. These treats can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Roasted Turkey Medallions For Dogs And Cats
Just like us, the turkey is the best part of Thanksgiving for our dogs and cats too. At our home, the fur babies start begging for a piece as soon as the turkey is out of the oven. Then we have to say no to them over and over again because it is cooked with lots of spices and oil that are bad for them.
At this point, this has almost become like a Thanksgiving tradition. Does it happen at your home too? Then This year cook a turkey dish that is safe and healthy for pets so that you do not have to resort to giving them table scraps. To cook this dish, you will need –
- White meat turkey without any seasoning
- chopped carrots
- quinoa or oatmeal (your choice)
Cooking Instructions:
- Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees.
- Chop the turkey and carrots into very small pieces.
- Place them in a food processor and blend them till it turns into a smooth mixture
- Add oatmeal or ground quinoa to the mixture and blend again.
- Take the mixture and make them into balls using the palms of your hand after all the ingredients are mixed well.
- If you have a tiny dog or a cat, then make sure that the balls are not too big. If you have a large dog, then dont make too small balls as they may gobble it up whole and start choking.
- Place the balls in a lightly greased cooking pan and put it in the oven.
- Bake the balls for 10-15 minutes or until they have been cooked properly.
Serve when the Turkey Medallions have cooled down.
Crunchy Tuna Treats For Thanksgiving
It’s no secret that cats love tuna. In fact, some cats are addicted to tuna. Some dogs also love canned tuna because of its strong aroma. If the fur babies at your home are a fan of tuna, then this dish is perfect for them. To cook this dish, you will need:
- Tuna in a base of water,
- Egg
- whole wheat flour
- Water
Cooking Instructions:
- Start by preheating your oven to a temperature of 350 degrees (Fahrenheit)
- Add all the ingredients to a bowl.
- Mix the ingredients thoroughly so that they form a dough-like texture
- Knead the dough well so that it takes the shape of a ball
- Spread some flour on a surface and roll the ball until it has a thickness of around ¼ inch.
- Make a checkerboard-like pattern on the dough and transfer it to a lightly greased cookie sheet.
- Bake the tuna dough for about 10-13 minutes or until it is cooked thoroughly.
Take this thanksgiving recipes out once it is properly cooked. Once it has cooled down a bit, break the dough into small pieces and give them to your fur babies to enjoy.
Pumpkin Smoothies
Your dog or cat may not be able to have a slice of pumpkin pie or enjoy a glass of red/white wine or soft drinks, but you can make a tasty and refreshing drink for them to enjoy on Thanksgiving! Consider whipping up simple, fall-themed pumpkin smoothies for them. Serve the smoothie as a meal topper or a refreshing treat after a hike.
You will need –
- Raw, unsweetened pumpkin puree
- Water
- Plain yogurt
- Cinnamon if your fur babies prefer the flavor (less than one teaspoon)
Cooking Instructions:
- In a blender, add the raw pumpkin puree, plain yogurt, and water if required.
- Blend the mixture for a minute.
- Make sure that the pumpkin puree and yogurt mix has blended well.
- Add a bit of cinnamon spice to the mixture and blend for another minute
Pour the mixture into your dog’s bowl and add their favorite toppings. You can also freeze the smoothie in an ice cube tray and freeze them for later.
Final Thoughts
Your pets provide you with unconditional love and joy all year round, so why not return the favor on this special day of gratitude? Try whipping up one of these easy, homemade treats and watch their tails wag and purrs emerge as they dive in. And don’t forget to snap some pics of them enjoying the results of your efforts. Most importantly, follow thanksgiving pet safety tips to have a worry-free, delicious, and happy Thanksgiving. Now go get cooking!
