Can Dogs Eat Turkey? Find The Truth

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Written by Tracy Ruffin
Last Updated on

Turkey is such a delectable treat for our meat loving four-legged partners particularly around Thanksgiving. In this Thanksgiving season, if you are making your buds on turkey sides and your dog gives you pup-cute eyes, don’t forget to share it with your furry friend. As a dog loving person, I personally wanna tell you about, can dogs eat turkey. Can it be beneficial for your pup? Or what should be the optimal quantity and many more.

So stay tuned with me!

Can dogs eat turkey

Yes! Dogs can eat turkey. As long as you are preparing the turkey safely and serving it in tiny portions. Turkey is a safe side for dogs if you cook it properly without any seasoning. It should be served plain by removing fat, bones and skin.

Can turkey be good for dogs

YES! As an occasion treat, turkey can be beneficial for dogs. It is the healthy protein for animal feed and oftenly a main ingredient in dog safe foods. It has nutrients like:

  • Magnesium.
  • Phosphorus.
  • Sodium.
  • Zinc.
  • Potassium.
  • Selenium.
  • Niacin.
  • Cholin.
  • Vitamin B12.
  • Vitamin B6.
  • Protein. 

Can dogs eat turkey bones

There’s no doubt that dogs are in love with chewing and eating bones but actually it is very harmful for dogs. The tiny poultry bones like chicken and turkey bones are particularly very harmful. These bones can lead your dog;

  • Injuries of tongue and mouth.
  • Inhibition of intestinal tract or throat.
  • Choking hazard.
  • Blockages that require urgent surgery.
  • The sharp fragments of bone can cause rectal bleeding.
  • Constipation.
  • Piercing of intestinal lining or stomach.

How to serve turkey to your dog

Turkey skin should be removed: Skin itself has a lot of fat content, and the butter or oil you are using is also dangerous for the dog’s health. Avoid any seasonings. High fat quantities can lead the dogs to pancreatitis. All the seasonings and spices can harm the stomach of your dog.

Say no to turkey bones: whatever the turkey part you are deciding to give your dog_it would just be meat. It shouldn’t have cooked turkey bones attached or mixed in.

Make small portions: If you wanna add any food scraps to your dog’s feed then ask your vet first, particularly if your dog is having foregoing health concerns like diabetes.

Feed only the turkey meat: Make sure you are serving the turkey plain without any roasting aromatics. Not just onions are dangerous for dogs while in large quantities the garlic can also be harmful. Ensure to give turkey just as a treat in small portions.

Optimal quantity of turkey for dogs

Size of dog Size of serving 
Extra small dog ( 2 to 20 pounds )Turkey pieces-half 
Small dog ( 21 to 30 pounds )Turkey pieces-1 to 2
Medium dog ( 31 to 50 pounds )Turkey pieces-3 to 4
Large dog ( 51 to 90 pounds )Turkey pieces-5 to 6
Extra large dog ( 90 plus pounds )Turkey pieces-handful 

What about fat and skin

Because of the higher fat content_skin should be prohibited for your furry friend. Fat and skin has an unhealthy side for dogs. High calories and fats are found in the dark meat of turkey thighs and legs. Many digestive problems like stomach upset can be caused due to the fat and skin. Particularly when we talk about puppies, they have a more sensitive stomach than the adult dogs.

If you feed your dog on fat containing foods regulalry_it can lead your dog to health problems like cardiac disorder, pancreatitis, diabetes, arthritis, obesity etc.

What if your dog ate turkey bone

Don’t panic and call your vet for advice and he will suggest to you how you can reduce the injury risk in your dog. Call your vet if your dog is facing difficulty to defecate the ingested bone even after a few days. Other signs can include:

  • Restlessness.
  • Bloated.
  • Blood in stool. 
  • Constipation.
  • Vomit.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Lethargy.

Make sure you feed your dog on bone free turkey without fat and skin to avoid any problem.

Conclusion

While plain turkey makes a safe side for your dog, you will have to make sure to avoid adding any seasoning, spices or preservatives etc. Say no to garlic or onion like ingredients in it. Raw turkey can have dangerous bacteria in it so always feed your dog on cooked turkey. Skin and fat content should be removed carefully.

FAQs

Is turkey sausage or turkey bacon safe for dogs?

You shouldn’t feed your dogs the turkey sausages or turkey bacon as they contain sodium, preservatives and ingredients like that_which are toxic for your dog. They also have additional ingredients like garlic and onion which are highly harmful for dogs.

Can dogs be allergic to dogs?

Just like humans have food allergies, dogs can also have this problem. But this condition particularly develops over time because of the repeated exposure to a specific food. It is very rare for dogs to have turkey allergy but if you are having a doubt, you have to keep a keen eye on symptoms like:

  • Vomit.
  • Rashes on skin.
  • Paw biting.
  • Itchy skin.

Are turkey burgers safe for dogs?

Preservatives, sodium and such other ingredients like that are harmful to your dogs, so you should avoid feeding your dog the turkey burgers. In Fact these are extremely toxic for them.

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