Turkey as an Essential Protein SourceTurkey is a valuable addition to your dog& 39;s diet, assuming it& 39;s prepa

Turkey as an Essential Protein Source

Turkey is a valuable addition to your dog's diet, assuming it's prepared appropriately and fed in moderation. Turkey provides an excellent protein source for dogs, containing crucial macronutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, not to mention vital micronutrients in the form of varied vitamins and minerals. However, not all parts of the turkey are safe for your dog. We'll explore which ones are recommended below.

Why is Turkey Protein Beneficial?

Compared to chicken, turkey has slightly higher concentrations of certain vitamins and minerals making it a superior dietary option. There are claims in integrative medicine terms that turkey is less inflammatory than chicken, making it better for dogs with inflammatory conditions. For example, for dogs with gastrointestinal upset or environmental allergies, some believe turkey will not exacerbate existing inflammation in the body.

Chicken Allergies and Turkey

It's important to consider that chicken is a common food allergen in dogs. Because chicken and turkey are so alike, depending on your dog's immune system sensitivity, they may generalise their chicken allergy to turkey as well. This means that if your dog is reactive to chicken, they might also be reactive to turkey.

Protein: White Meat vs Dark Meat

Both white meat and dark meat are safe for your dogs to consume. However, white meat is less fatty and higher in protein density than the dark portions, making it the slightly healthier choice from a nutritionist's perspective. Utmost still is the turkey meal, created by rendering fresh turkey until most of the water is cooked off, leaving a highly protein concentrated end product.

Which Part of the Turkey Is Safe for Dogs?

While most of the turkey can be safely consumed by dogs, it’s important to understand which parts pose a potential threat or offer the most nutritional benefit. We discuss the safe and unsafe parts in the following sections.

Giblets: Heart, Liver, Kidneys, Gizzard, and Neck

The giblets, which usually include the liver, kidneys, heart, gizzard, and neck, are often included in store-bought turkeys. With the exception of the neck due to its bone content, most of these are safe for your dog to consume as long as they're fully cooked. It's recommended to boil them for about five to ten minutes or sear them on the stove top for a few minutes on both sides before serving them to your dog.

Turkey Skin

Turkey skin is very high in fat and can cause gastrointestinal upset. Added to this, the seasonings often used when cooking turkey, such as garlic and onions, can be toxic to dogs and could make them anemic. Therefore, turkey skin should not be given to dogs.

Turkey Bones

Cooked turkey bones are a danger to dogs. The cooking process weakens the bone structure, causing them to easily shatter. This could lead to a foreign body obstruction or even perforation of your dog's gastrointestinal system, both of which are medical emergencies. Hence, avoid giving cooked turkey bones to your dogs.