Since many of the foods we consume at Christmas are heavy in fat and sugar or are actually highly dangerous for our dogs, the list of foods that your dog can have as a snack during the holiday season is much less than the list of foods that they should avoid. However, you and your dog can still share a festive holiday meal without worry. Read on to see what we recommend feeding your dog for Christmas.
The turkey is the centrepiece of our holiday meal, and Fido can partake in the feast as well. Because turkeys are so much larger than chickens, you’ll have plenty of Christmas dinner leftovers to last you and your loved ones five more meals.
Turkey is not only delicious, but it is also a fantastic protein source and a good source of B vitamins, which are essential for maintaining a healthy neural system and metabolic rate. The fact that it serves as the primary protein component in so many commercial dog foods is hardly a mystery. Due to the high quality of health advantages it provides, turkey is used in some of our Pure recipes.
Providing your dog with some plain, skinless turkey as a treat will instantly make them your dog’s best friend. We humans like to stuff, baste, and bathe our turkey in fatty substances, herbs, and spices to make it extra appetising, but our canine companions will have a hard time digesting all that extra fat. Your dog’s digestive system will have a field day with all these tasty additions, and the extra fat may even be harmful if it triggers an attack of acute pancreatitis.
Be wary of the turkey bones as well; they’re easily broken, and the shards present a serious choking hazard in addition to the risk of tearing internal organs. Keep cooked bones away from curious paws because they become brittle and splinter easily.
While turkey is the undisputed king of Christmas dinners, many people also love serving salmon as a side dish. In addition, this fish is safe for our canine companions to eat.
Salmon is an excellent protein source because it is rich in amino acids. Amino acids play a crucial role in the body’s ability to grow, develop, and function normally. Additionally, it contains a high concentration of beneficial omega-3 oils. Omega 3 is one of the healthiest things for your dog to eat because it aids in digestion, brain function, healthy muscles, a lustrous coat, and even inflammation reduction.
Therefore, several of our Pure recipes have salmon as the primary protein source, and all of our Pure recipes incorporate natural omega 3 oils derived from algae and linseed. In sum, adding salmon to your dog’s diet is a fantastic idea.
However, you shouldn’t give your dog any kind of raw or smoked fish. Salmon poisoning, caused by the bacteria Nanophyetus Salmincola found in raw salmon, can make your pet very sick.
In a similar vein, smoked salmon still contains the same harmful bacteria while being cured rather than cooked. The high salt content of smoked salmon makes it unhealthy for dogs with delicate stomachs.
The majority of vegetables are quite safe for our canine companions and can even be a welcome addition to their holiday feast. Healthy human and canine diets depend heavily on the vitamins and minerals found in vegetables.
Therefore, we include nutritious vegetables like peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, and cabbage in Pure so that your dog may enjoy its healthful, hearty diet all year long, not just around the holidays.
Here’s some of the best dog-safe veggies to dish out in your dog’s meal bowl this Christmas:
Carrots
Parsnips
Broccoli
Sprouting Brussel’s
Cauliflower \sCabbage \sPeas
Humans typically ruin the nutritional value of the Christmas dinner vegetables by dousing them in butter, seasonings, and even honey in an effort to make them more palatable. This is not something that should be given to dogs unless it is completely apparent.
Another common side dish at holiday meals is cauliflower cheese, but your dog should avoid it since the thick cheese sauce can cause stomach upset. Although dogs may eat cheese in little amounts, and they normally enjoy it very much, the amount of cheese in this side dish is way too much for their sensitive stomachs.
Onions, garlic, leeks, and shallots are all members of the allium plant family and should be avoided by your dog this holiday season. Keep your dog away from the Christmas feast as these are particularly toxic to canines. Keep reading to find out more about the holiday treats you should skip this year.
Plain potatoes can actually be a pretty nutritious treat for your dog, as long as they’re served in moderation. Potatoes are an excellent source of both the digestive fibre and skin-nourishing vitamin C that keep you looking and feeling your best.
Giving your dog a little of a potato as a treat is a great idea because the humble tuber has a plethora of minerals, including manganese, phosphorus, and potassium. Keep in mind that potatoes are high in calories and starch, so moderation is key.
In order to ensure that your dog receives the full nutritional value of the spud in a manageable portion size, we incorporate both white and sweet potatoes into our Pure recipes along with a wide variety of other healthy veggies.
As with everything, just make sure your dog only eats potatoes that have no fatty additives like butter, cream and salt. Since roasties are typically doused in oil, the best option for a dog-safe food is plain mashed or boiled potatoes.
Apples, bananas, and blueberries are just few of the human fruits that can also be fed to dogs. Your dog will love this healthy food because it is full of nutrients and tastes great.
We can share the joy of the holiday season with our dogs by feeding them cranberries, a jolly fruit that is also wonderfully healthy. However, they could be sour, making your dog wary if they are given to it alone.
Cranberries may not be to everyone’s liking due to their sour flavour, but the vitamin C and E they provide is great for maintaining strong bones, skin, and immune systems. Cranberries have been linked to reducing the severity of and preventing UTIs by inhibiting the growth of E. coli bacteria. For all their health benefits, cranberries are a vital ingredient in Pure.
Cranberries offer many health benefits, but the excessive amounts of cranberry sauce we typically serve at Christmas won’t be good for dogs. Cranberry sauce contains no ingredients that are harmful to dogs, however it is typically very high in sugar, therefore it is not recommended.
To sum up, when planning your dog’s special Christmas meal, it’s most important to stick to uncomplicated ingredients. Apart from that, the turkey, vegetables, and potatoes will still be delicious. Your dog will think you just gave them the nicest present ever with that.
