Feeding your dog table scraps is not typically a good idea, but there are occasions when people want to treat their dogs to human food. It can seem safe to feed your pet meat products that you can safely eat, but there are some meats that humans can eat that dogs should not consume large quantities of. Turkey and ham are always on the list of things that people want to feed their pets during the holidays since turkey and ham will be getting cooked in people’s houses at these times of the year.
If you have been worried about whether or not your dog can eat turkey, there are occasions when you can safely feed this meat product to your dog. You should remember, however, that dog kibble offers all the nutrients that your dog needs, and you should not need to supplement their diet with any additional meat products for them to be healthy.
If you are interested in learning more about whether or not dogs can eat turkey, you need to keep reading.
Yes, Dogs Can Eat Turkey
Yes, your dog can eat turkey, but there are limits to how much of it your dog should be consuming in a day. You also need to make sure that you are not feeding your dog turkey that has been prepared for human consumption. The oils, spices, and butter that are used to prepare turkey for human consumption can be bad for dogs’ digestive tracts and can lead to vomiting and diarrhea when a dog eats too much turkey that has been cooked with these substances.
If you are going to feed your dog turkey, it needs to be cooked plain, and it should not be fed in large quantities. Remember that most dogs are used to eating kibble, and they are not adjusted to eating meats in whole form. Even when prepared correctly, meats that are safe for dogs can make them sick if your dog has not been eating whole foods and has just been eating kibble.
What to Think About When Changing Your Dog’s Diet
It is never a good idea to make a switch from a kibble diet to raw foods without a slow adjustment period, either. You will need to make sure as well that you are balancing the kinds of meat products that your dog is eating so that they are not being fed too much of any one kind of protein. Farmed meat products are not actually ideal for dog consumption overall because these animals are not fed in a natural way.
The grains and other feed that are offered to farmed meat animals can cause allergies and other issues in dogs when they consume too much of this kind of meat. People who are feeding a raw diet to their dogs are usually sourcing the meat from game animals or from the butcher. Feeding your dog meat from the grocery store is rarely ideal for their overall well-being.
How to Prepare and Feed Turkey Safely to Dogs
You will need to be sure that you are feeding the turkey that you want to give to your dog properly so that you do not make them sick. Follow these steps for safe prep of turkey to be offered to your canine friend:
- Remove the skin. The fat that is in turkey skin will make most dogs vomit, and it can also lead to pancreatitis in dogs that are sensitive to it.
- Onions and other seasonings can be toxic to dogs, so if the turkey is pre-seasoned, you should not feed it to your dog under any circumstances.
- Feed small quantities of the prepared turkey and never feed it raw. You will want to start out with scraps of turkey only. In small dogs, you should never increase the amount of turkey beyond these small bites. This is a very rich meat, especially when compared to kibble feeds, so you do not want to make your dog sick.
- Never feed turkey bones to dogs. They are hollow and can cause severe problems if your dog eats them. They are also prone to being sharp and can cause tears in the intestinal tract. It used to be common to feed meat bones to dogs, but vets advise against giving any kind of bone to dogs due to how hard they are to digest. Turkey bones can also be covered in bacteria that can greatly upset your dog’s digestion processes.
Turkey is not an ideal feeding supplement for your dog’s kibble. If you are going to switch to feeding your dog raw food, talk with your veterinarian first to make sure their nutritional needs are met. There are also pre-made raw food diets that you can purchase from suppliers that are much more ideal for your dog than feeding them turkey. If you really want to share some turkey with your dog during the holidays, make sure that you set aside an unseasoned amount of turkey and give them a very small portion.
Feeding Turkey to Dogs is Not Ideal
There are many farmed meat products that are not ideal for dogs to eat. Turkey is one of these farmed meats, and you need to be cautious when you decide to feed this kind of meat product to your pet. You will be better off just letting your dog have a safe dog treat at the holidays than feeding them turkey that has been cooked and seasoned in a way that will make your dog sick.
Always think about the potential risks associated with feeding something other than kibble to your dog. Dogs are used to kibble diets, and they are often not able to adjust rapidly to raw food or farmed meat products. You should seek the advice of your vet if you want to make a change from kibble feed to whole food for your dog. There are better meat products to give to your dog than turkey if you are trying to feed them in a more natural way.
Have questions about your dog’s diet? Call Kryder + Harr Veterinary Clinic at (574) 277-6533 to talk with your vet about any nutritional questions.
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Welcome to Kryder & Harr Veterinary Clinic! Our animal hospital has been a fixture in the Granger community since 1981, practicing full-service veterinary medicine for all our pet parents and their furry family members. At KHVC, we pride ourselves on our history, of providing excellent customer service for our clients, along with dedicated, compassionate, and exceptional medical care for all of our patients.