At this time of year, a cook’s most appreciative audience doesn’t eat with a fork and knife. However, while we civilized humans indulge in seasonal delicacies that are fatty, salty, and sweet, our pets can’t handle all that rich food. Don’t worry — it’s easy to share your feast with favorite pets, guilt-free.
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Good to the Bone
It’s fine to give pets raw bones, but never cooked ones; cooking makes bones brittle, so they splinter and can puncture a pet’s intestines. The uncooked turkey neck makes an excellent treat for dogs and cats; just dip the neck under hot water for two seconds to kill off surface bacteria. (A plus: Raw bones polish pets’ teeth.)
Lickety-Split
A drizzle of pan juice makes a lovely kibble condiment — after you’ve carefully skimmed off the fat. Please don’t let your pet lick the roasting pan: “That’s a sure way to give an animal pancreatitis,” says nutrition expert Joan Weiskopf, author of Pet Food Nation (HarperCollins).
Pet-Iquette
My mom stands firm when treating the family pets: She collects their table scraps and serves them in the kitchen. To keep that homemade, holiday-food vibe going year-round, feed pets healthy, raw, dehydrated food by the Honest Kitchen; thehonestkitchen.com.
Safe Holiday Foods to Share with Pets
Pumpkin
Pureed pumpkin is a good source of fiber and vitamin A — hold the sugar (but feel free to add cinnamon).
Cranberries
Fresh, cooked cranberries support pets’ urinary tract health — just hold the sugar and sweeten with Stevia instead.
Yams
Sweet potatoes and yams are deliciously healthy — but naturally sugary enough to avoid if your pet has diabetes or cancer.
Turkey
Carved, cooked meat, trimmed of skin and fat, is what your four-footed carnivore craves. Go ahead, indulge him.
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