SAN DIEGO — Thanksgiving is almost here, and the family is gathering along with our fur family but what can you feed your pets off the Thanksgiving table? I came to the San Diego Humane Society to find out what you can and cannot feed them safely.
Nina Thompson with the San Diego Humane Society said it is better to play it safe on the holidays.
"You really don't want to modify your pet's routine too much over Thanksgiving because it can be very stressful for them," Thompson recommends. "If you have a lot of different people feeding different things, they shouldn't be eating that can cause problems of its own."
So, she suggests talking with your friends and family ahead of time.
"It's a really good idea to have a conversation with your guests, not to give your pets off the table."
Don't feed your pet these items
Some of the obvious things not to feed your pets are turkey skin and gravy or fat trimmings from ham and roast beef, according to Thompson.
"Your pets really can't digest things that have been cooked, sweet things, onions, grapes, raisins, that sort of thing." This includes stuffing which has onions in it. And alcohol is a major no-no, so no spiked Eggnog or the tasty beer.
What is safe to feed your pet?
There are some traditional Thanksgiving items that are traditionally safe for pets.
"In general, it's safe to give your dog lean white turkey meat, uncooked vegetables, not over salted, or cooked with spices," Thompson said.
"We give our dogs here some cream cheese as a high enrichment treat, regular cheese works out. [Also] hot dogs, we give them peanut butter, it's a great treat."
Keep your pets occupied
Thompson also suggests keeping your pets occupied around dinner time. "We have a lot of different tools at our disposal these days because there's puzzles you can put dog treats in the puzzle and that will keep them busy for a long time."
Staying with foods that your pets are used to makes Thanksgiving go well for everyone.
"The Best Rule of Thumb is to include your pets in a thoughtful way so they can stay healthy and you don't have to make an unexpected visit to the emergency room."
So, those are some guidelines if you're going to feed your Fur family. And speaking of the Fur family, there are many pets available including Cloi looking to be adopted, and the San Diego Humane Society is waving adoption fees for dogs and puppies through December 1st.
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