Recipe: Homemade Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs

Our dogs are part of our families, so it's expected that we want to share the holidays with them. Pet owners celebrate their pups' birthdays, buy them gifts at Christmas, and even dress them up for the 4th of July. Why not make a homemade Thanksgiving dinner for dogs to share with your furry friend?

Homemade Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs RecipeIt's important for you to know that you can't share your traditional Thanksgiving dinner for humans with your pets. Some ingredients in your meal, like onions, chocolate, and raisins, are toxic to dogs. While others may not be toxic, they could really upset Fido's stomach.

The centerpiece of a Thanksgiving table is the turkey, of course. Instead of cutting a slice from the holiday bird, try making your homemade Thanksgiving dinner for dogs with lean ground turkey. Turkey's skin is very high in fat, which could upset your pooch's tummy and cause diarrhea.

Most of the fruits and vegetables that you're serving your human guests are safe for your pet too. You can stick closely to the recipe that I'm sharing below or you can substitute other dog-friendly veggies instead. Just be sure that the ingredients you're adding are safe for your dog to ingest.

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Homemade Dog Food

Homemade Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs Recipe

Homemade Thanksgiving Dinner for DogsIngredients

  • 3 pounds lean ground turkey
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1.5 cups of UNCOOKED rice
  • 2 shredded carrots
  • 3 cups chopped spinach
  • 1 shredded zucchini

Directions

The first step is to cook the rice according to the instructions on the packaging. You'll need 1.5 cups of uncooked rice, which means it will measure about 3 cups when it is cooked.

Homemade Thanksgiving Dinner for DogsIn a large pot, brown the turkey on medium heat, using the olive oil to keep it from sticking. You can also substitute coconut oil or any other dog-friendly cooking oil that you have on hand. While the turkey is cooking, crumble it with a spatula.

Turn the temperature to low and add the cooked rice, carrots, spinach, and zucchini to the crumbled turkey. Cook on low until the homemade Thanksgiving dinner for dogs is heated through and the spinach has wilted.

As soon as the food has cooled, you can serve it to your pet. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 5 days. You can also freeze this dish to serve later. Store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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Samantha’s biggest passion in life is spending time with her Boxer dogs. After she rescued her first Boxer in 2004, Samantha fell in love with the breed and has continued to rescue three other Boxers since then. She enjoys hiking and swimming with her Boxers, Maddie and Chloe.