Can Dogs Eat Turkey?

So, to help us serve the perfect bird (perfect for humans that is) we tend add lots of butter both over and under the skin or stuff it with onions and garlic to add flavour and moisture when cooking. Not to mention salt on the skin to help it become lovely and crisp.

Lets take each of these ingredients in turn and look at the dangers they can pose to our furry friends.

Can dogs eat butter?

Butter is mainly saturated fats and offers no nutritional value. It is of course made from milk and dogs can be lactose intolerant and often has added salt which we will touch on shortly. If your dog does eat butter there should be no long term health effects however if it is regular occurrence then it is likely they will put on weight. As we all know carrying excess fat around causes numerous health concerns and should be avoided.

Can dogs eat onions and garlic?

The simple answer is no. Whilst unlike grapes where even a small amount can be toxic, onions and garlic usually need to be consumed in larger quantities to cause ill effects to your best friend. So the best way to stay safe is to avoid them all togther.

Can dogs eat salt?

Just as is it for humans, too much salt is bad for your dog’s health so it’s best avoided altogether. Symptoms of salt poisoning can include vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, swelling or fluid accumulation, excessive thirst and urination and at worst tremors and seizures.

Whilst that all sounds very scary its always best to be well informed before feeding your very best friend anything other than his usual diet. For your dog to safely eat turkey just follow these simple guidelines:

 

– Avoid feeding turkey skin as it can be saturated with added fats such as butter and of course excess salt.

– Do not feed any of the stuffing that was cooked with the turkey.

– Only feed small amounts mixed in with his usual meal.

 

Can Dogs Eat Turkey Bones?

Cooked bones should never be fed to dogs. When bones are cooked they become brittle and can splinter potentially causing trauma to the dogs mouth and digestive tract. They also pose a choking hazard and should be avoided at all costs. However longingly your pup looks at you when are are carving the turkey don’t give in to those big brown eyes of his.

There is a growing trend to “raw feed” dogs which is also know as a BARF diet. BARF is an acronym for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food. a BARF diet does include feeding bones but only raw bones and never ones that have been cooked in any way for any length of time.

For a great way to cook your best friend their very own Christmas Lunch click here