It’s that festive time of year, and you might be wondering can dogs eat turkey? They can… but it’s not that great for them. That’s because turkey skin and dark meat is fatty. And of course, turkey bones are really bad for dogs.
If you want to make your Morkie a holiday treat…
…try one slice of turkey white meat
- no gravy
- remove the skin
- no bones
- no added fat or juice
- no dressing or cranberry
- just plain, white meat
The dangers of too much turkey
Turkey isn’t dangerous for dogs, but depending on how it’s cooked, it’s not easily digested by dogs. Plus, it can be fatty and can cause stomach upsets for a small dog like a Morkie.
High-fat table scraps and meats can cause pancreatitis in dogs — the Pet Health Network advises that “Even if your dog doesn’t normally eat a high-fat diet, the introduction of a large amount of fatty food all at once can cause acute pancreatitis.” That’s pancreatitis that comes on suddenly and is unexpected, and it can be very painful for your Morkie.
Symptoms of pancreatitis: loss of appetite, vomiting, and abdominal pain. A swollen abdomen is another symptom, along with lethargy and diarrhea.
Can dogs eat turkey? Some Q&As
Does turkey cause diarrhea in dogs?
High fat scraps and meats can cause pancreatitis — the Pet Health Network advises that “Even if your dog doesn’t normally eat a high-fat diet, the introduction of a sudden fatty meal and be painful AND dangerous.
Can my dog have the stuffing?
Not a good idea; dogs cannot eat ONIONS, and should avoid large amounts of garlic and other spices.
Stick to a small piece of white meat, with no gravy or trimmings and your Morkie will thank you in the long run (maybe not, but he’ll be healthy)
Does turkey make dogs sleepy?
The stuff in turkey that causes us to get sleepy is Tryptofan. It’s possible that Tryptofan in turkey can have a mildly sedating effect on dogs too. If your Morkie conks out early, it’s either that, or all the excitement!
Can I give a turkey neck to my dog?
You can – but only if it is RAW. If the turkey neck is cooked, the bones will shatter, and could pierce your Morkie’s digestive tract. Never give your dog cooked bones. Raw is perfectly good – if your dog is used to whole raw meaty bones. If not, the holidays may not be the best time to try feeding RAW.
Can dogs have turkey bones?
No, no, no. Unless they are uncooked. Cooked bones will turn into shards when a dog bites into them, causing long-lasting damage to the digestive system, and even DEATH!
Can I give my Morkie the turkey liver?
Most turkeys come packed with a little gift bag – giblets, which include the liver, kidneys, heart, gizzard and neck. Cover with water in a small pan, and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium and cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until giblets are cooked through. Your Morkie will LOVE it!
Here’s a great recipe from CanineJournal.com for a dog-safe treat made from leftover turkey.
What to do if your Morkie gets into turkey bones
Read this important advice at WWW.CHASINGDOGTALES.COM
Holiday Helpers
For more holiday-specific tips and ideas, please check out these recent posts:
Realizing that his dog ate the Christmas turkey, David Barrett posted: “There’s the culprit, she can’t move.”
Funny / not funny
Bubba, a dog in England, snuck into the kitchen on Christmas Eve and ate an entire turkey! Luckily the dog survived, even though the owner, David Barrett, says she could not MOVE, and just crashed out on the carpet all Christmas day.
We hope that feast was worth it for Bubba, since her family has now said the plump pooch will be put on a New Year’s diet.
Here’s the dog’s normal size
