5 Pet Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, you’ve probably started to buy ingredients and prepare your dinner menu.

While you’re planning your delicious holiday feast, shouldn’t you consider cooking something for your furry friend to enjoy? 

To show your best friend a little extra love, here are 5 pet friendly Thanksgiving recipes for you to try out.

Let’s dig in!

5 Pet Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes

Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Cup Treats

Treat your pup by testing out this recipe from The Wildest for pumpkin and peanut butter cups. With only 6 ingredients, they’re easy to make, nutritious and delicious for your dog. 

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups of whole wheat flour
• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup of pumpkin puree
• 3 tbsp. of homemade or all-natural peanut butter

Topping Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (100 g) puréed pumpkin
• 16 ounces (450 g) cream cheese, softened to room temperature

Homemade Turkey Dinner

For the full Thanksgiving dinner experience, check out this recipe filled with simple ingredients that are safe for your best friend.

Dog Food Gravy

To add a little extra taste to your homemade turkey dinner, whip up this dog food gravy with only 4 ingredients. Check out the full recipe at Food.com

Ingredients:

• 1(13 ounce) can dog food (ground, not chunks in gravy)
• 13 ounces water (use the dog food can to measure)
• 1 tablespoon water (to mix with the cornstarch)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Holiday Sweet Potato Casserole 

For a side dish that will definitely be a hit with your pet, try out this sweet potato casserole recipe from the Dog People.

Ingredients: 

• ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• 2 sweet potatoes
• 2 large carrots
• 1 apple
• 1 can low sodium drained and rinsed kidney beans (or prepared from dry to avoid the excess sodium)
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• OPTIONAL: 1 tsp turmeric & ½ tsp ginger. 

Apple Pie Bites

To top off the Thanksgiving festivities, serve your pet a delectable treat for dessert, Apple Pie Bites. For step by step instructions, check out the video below from The Dog People. 

Ingredients: 

• 2 apples, cored and diced
• 1 Tbsp cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 2 cups AP flour or oat flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 egg
• Optional: ¼ cup grated parmesan or cheddar cheese

Thanksgiving Pet Safety 

Now that you have a few ideas to get you inspired for your pet’s Thanksgiving meal, we want to quickly highlight some pet safety tips to remember this holiday season. 

Be Cautious of Your “Human Food” Around Your Pet

Since you’ll be serving your furry friend their own meal, hopefully they won’t be curious about what’s going on at the human table.

But just to be safe, ensure that your food is out of reach at all times. This includes not only when you’re eating, but also when you’re prepping and cooking the Thanksgiving meal.

When you’re finished eating, be cognizant of where you place your trash and be sure to keep everything out of your pet’s line of sight. 

If you believe that your pet has ingested something that may cause them to get sick, act quickly and call your veterinarian or any emergency veterinarian hospital. You can also call the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). 

Pay Attention To Your Pet’s Behavior Around Visitors

If you’re planning to host at your house, be aware that new visitors may cause your pet to feel stressed or anxious. Whether it’s the added noise or just pure excitement, ensure that you pay attention to how your pet is reacting. 

With doors opening and closing, you don’t want your pet to bolt. So, it may be best to place them in another room when visitors first arrive and when they exit. 

Travel Safe With Your Pet

Finally, if you’re planning to travel with your pet there are a few things you should remember. 

If you’re traveling by plane, ensure that you have packed a bag for your pet with the necessary treats, collar, leash and anything else they need. Be sure to include their health documents from your veterinarian as these are needed when traveling across state lines. 

For travel by car, ensure that your pet is always restrained properly and never leave them alone in the car. Especially for smaller animals, investing in a secure travel bed can make all the difference and prevent any accidents. 

We hope that you’ll try out these 5 pet friendly Thanksgiving recipes and that you’ll utilize these safety tips helpful to keep your pet happy and healthy this holiday season!