Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is Jacque Pepin’s favorite holiday because, he explained in a cooking video I watched recently, it is neither a holiday that celebrates battles nor a religious holiday. It is a pure and simple holiday to gather with others, share good food, be thankful for the past year’s blessings, and be merry.

I am thankful for you, the folks who read this blog and who wait for a Prestige puppy, sometimes for years. You understand that I could produce a larger supply of puppies, and you also understand the important reasons why I can’t.

It’s natural for people to want to share the holiday with their pets. I understand that and share the impulse. But, if you are sharing holiday meals with your dogs, it’s a good idea to pause to know what foods are good to share and which may cause digestive upset (or worse).

Before going into the specifics, I will mention some big ideas to consider when sharing food with our canine companions. If you like salt in your food, removing the dog’s portion before adding salt is good. The same goes for many seasonings, including allspice, bay leaf, cayenne, cocoa, cloves, marjoram, mustard, onion, oregano, and Spanish thyme—all of which pose hazards for dogs.

Onion, leeks, ham, turkey bones, casseroles, grapes, stuffing, and rich gravy are all foods to avoid for your dog. Too much fat, butter, and cream can lead to pancreatitis in our canines—not a holiday gift anyone wants.

So what’s left? Just about all the plain, simple foods on our traditional Thanksgiving menu are suitable to share with our dogs: carrots, celery, skinless turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans, apples, and pumpkin.