A Protein Your Pup Can Gobble Up
Every month, we look for national holidays and observances we can celebrate with our dogs. You can imagine our surprise when we found out that June was Turkey Lovers’ Month! Wouldn’t you think such an observance should happen in November? But the fact of the matter is that turkey is a lean, healthy protein that can be served and celebrated all year long. In particular, turkey is one great protein option for your dogs’ food.
Turkey is near the top of the list alongside chicken and beef as one of the most popular proteins found in dog foods. Natural dog foods with turkey should offer your dog the full spectrum of nutrition without being overloaded with fats and fillers. Pawsitively Pure turkey food also includes sweet potatoes, green beans, and carrots to pack in lots of vitamins and minerals at every meal. Turkey offers great nutritional value as part of your dog’s balanced diet.
The Benefits of Turkey for Dogs
Like chicken, turkey breast is a lean protein that helps your dogs build healthy muscles. Well-made dog foods use breast meat, avoiding the fatty dark meat that can be too calorie-dense for your dogs to maintain a healthy weight and active lifestyle. Many pet parents choose turkey-based dog food as an alternative if their dogs are sensitive to chicken or beef.
Turkey has a few nutrients that are particularly important for your dog’s energy levels and immune systems. This protein is a great source of riboflavin, a vitamin that helps transform proteins and carbohydrates into energy and also stimulates the production of red blood cells, helping your dog stay active every day. It also includes a good deal of phosphorus which supports your dogs’ kidney function and helps flush away toxins.
Before you throw your dog a couple turkey scraps from your dinner or your deli meat sandwich, though, there are a few tips you should keep in mind to maximize the health benefits from this protein.
What to Know Before You Feed Your Dog Turkey
Turkey for dogs should be prepared separately from your meal
When we prepare turkey for a big roast dinner, we often pack the skin with salt, herbs, onions, and garlic to enhance the flavor. Onions and garlic are among the most dangerous human foods for dogs to eat as they can damage a dog’s red blood cells in serious cases. What’s more, excessive salt intake can cause seizures, dehydration, vomiting, and other troubling issues. Basically, it’s the protein that’s good for dogs, not the dressing.
When you do give your dog turkey, be sure you prepare a portion of turkey just for them with no extra herbs or spices. Be sure the turkey wasn’t brined before cooking, as well.
Skip the deli meat
It’s so easy to reach into the fridge and toss a turkey slice to your dog, but we’re here to tell you that that’s not a healthy habit. Deli turkey and other similarly processed meats are major sources of nitrates, which can lead to weakness and tremors in dogs. As a rule of thumb, avoid giving your dog access to processed foods as they don’t promote the healthy nutrition your dog really needs.
Be sure to avoid the bones
Poultry bones are much more brittle than beef bones, especially when they’re cooked. These brittle bones can splinter easily and cause serious damage to your dog’s mouth, esophagus, and/or stomach. They can also be serious choking hazards. When you feed your dogs turkey, make sure you’re only feeding them the meat and not a big chunk of breast or thigh.
Ready to Try Turkey for Your Dogs?
Here at the Pawsitively Pure kitchen, our dogs are big fans of our gently-cooked turkey and vegetable meal. At every life stage, it helps them maintain their energy levels and promotes healthy skin and coat. We specifically formulate our dog food with complimentary vegetables to give your dog a nutritionally balanced diet. When you’re ready to order, head over to our online shop or stop by and see us at one of our weekend farmers’ markets.