Thanksgiving is a time to share love, thanks, and memories alongside a table full of food. Your special fur-baby wants to partake in all that love too. Unfortunately, many of the foods on your Thanksgiving table are loaded with the wrong ingredients for your dog and can make them sick.
However, with just a little time you can make homemade Thanksgiving treats for your puppy that are healthy, delicious, and good for their digestive system. If you don’t have great cooking skills or you don’t have enough time this holiday season, then there are some great gourmet treats you can find online to get your dog involved in Thanksgiving. Look for treats that are all-natural and made from human-grade ingredients, like:
- Plato Original Real Strips Turkey and Pumpkin
- Fruitables Pumpkin and Banana Flavor Dog Treats
- Portland Grain and Gluten-Free Pumpkin Biscuits
- Bubba Rose MMMM… Bacon
Not All Foods Are Safe for Your Puppy
You’ll likely want to share all that love and delicious food with your puppy. But not all foods you serve are safe for your dog’s health or digestive tract. The wrong foods can make your dog sick or even raise the risk of developing pancreatitis.
The American Kennel Club has a list of safe and dangerous foods for your pup. Remember, that even safe foods in excess can lead to obesity. Most dogs won’t refuse food, especially treats. It’s our responsibility to help them maintain a trim, healthy weight through good food and exercise.
| Safe Foods | Dangerous Foods |
| Bread – but it has no nutritional value | Almonds |
| Cashews | Macadamia nuts |
| Cheese, yogurt, and milk – watch for lactose intolerance | Raisins |
| Coconut | Chocolate |
| Corn – but not on the cob | Cinnamon |
| Eggs | Garlic and onions |
| Fish – be sure there are no small bones | Ice cream |
| Ham – in small amounts | Anything with Xylitol |
| Honey | Avocado |
| Peanut butter and peanuts | Alcohol |
| Turkey, Chicken, Beef – well cooked | Caffeine |
| Quinoa | Salty foods |
Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Are Often Favorites
Two favorite flavors are pumpkin and peanut butter. It can be fun experimenting with recipes to find your pup’s favorite treat. When you know the basic foods you should never include and some basic recipes, you can branch out to find what fits your dog’s taste buds best.
There is no consensus on whether using wheat products is problematic for your dog’s digestive system. Many store-bought foods and treats have wheat products in them. However, some veterinarians rightly point out that dogs and wolves do not eat wheat in the wild. Therefore, their digestive system may have trouble handling it. Here are recipes that can help you get started making your own dog treats at home. As you experiment, you can try substituting different flour to reduce your dog’s exposure to wheat and gluten if you choose.
Frozen Pumpkin Dog Treats
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup pumpkin puree
Mix the pumpkin and yogurt thoroughly in a bowl. Pour the mixture into an ice tray or molds and freeze for 24 hours. Pop them into a bag in the freezer.
Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Treats
2 cups flour
1 cup canned pumpkin
½ cup peanut butter (Xylitol free)
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Mix the pumpkin and peanut butter and then stir in the flour to make a dough. Roll out the dough and cut it into shapes with your favorite cookie cutters. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes.
Pumpkin Apple Treats
3 cups oat flour (process rolled oats in a food processor)
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 large eggs
1 medium apple
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Grate the apple. It will turn brown from oxidizing in the air, but it doesn’t change the treats. Combine all the ingredients and work them into a dough. Lightly flour your working surface and roll out the dough. Cut into shapes and place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Turn off the oven and cool with the treats inside for one hour.
Chop Lickin’ Sweet Potato Treats
Sweet potato is another favorite flavor and is easily incorporated into your dog treats.
Sweet Potato Treats
1 baked, peeled sweet potato
1 cup tapioca flour
1 egg
1 tablespoon honey
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Mix all the ingredients together into a dough. Add a tablespoon of water or a pinch of flour to get the right consistency. Roll it out and use cookie cutters to cut it into shapes. Bake for ten minutes.
Contact Us
Our four-legged friends love us unconditionally and we love caring for them. At Walk! ATX, our passion is the health and welfare of your dog. If you need someone to walk your pet while you’re at work, pet sit while you’re away, or help with dog training, contact us today at (512) 655-9557. Our staff is trained to support the health and well-being of your pet.