Creating a special Christmas dinner for your dog can be a fun and festive way to include them in the holiday celebrations. However, it's important to ensure that the meal is safe and healthy.
Homemade dog-friendly Christmas dinner
Ingredients:
For the main course:
- 1 cup cooked and shredded lean turkey or chicken (white meat)
- 1/4 cup cooked and mashed sweet potatoes (no seasoning)
- 1/4 cup cooked and finely chopped green beans (no seasoning)
- 1/4 cup cooked peas For the "gravy"
(optional):
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken or turkey broth (no onions, garlic, or seasoning)
- 1 tablespoon plain Greek yoghurt (unsweetened, unflavoured)
Main course:
Cook the turkey or chicken until it's fully cooked (make sure there are no bones). Shred it into small, easily digestible pieces. Cook the sweet potatoes, green beans, and peas until soft and mashable. Ensure they are plain, without any added seasonings, butter, or oils.
Mix the shredded meat, mashed sweet potatoes, chopped green beans, and peas together in a bowl. You can adjust the proportions based on your dog's size and dietary needs.
"Gravy" (optional):
Heat the low-sodium chicken or turkey broth in a small saucepan. This cannot contain any ingredients that are harmful to dogs, such as onions or garlic. Let the broth cool slightly, then mix in a tablespoon of plain Greek yogurt to create a creamy
texture. You can drizzle a small amount of the "gravy" over the main course for added flavour. Check it has cooled before serving.
The Blue Cross state that providing your dog is healthy and is not allergic to the following foods, it’s safe to feed your dog a little bit of these foods at Christmas:
- Turkey meat (no skin or bones)
- Salmon (fillets or cooked in spring water are preferable to smoked salmon)
- Lamb meat (no bones)
- Green beans
- Brussels sprouts
- Parsnips