Thanksgiving Day will not be complete without a turkey on the table. Turkey is often associated with friendship, family, gratitude, and generosity. Having one brings people together and encourages everyone to share the spirit of love, thankfulness, and cooperation.
If you’re a pet owner, you might think of giving your dogs some turkey necks. Pets are part of the family, which is why they should also have something to eat to celebrate the holidays, right? This article will give you all the information you’ll need about turkey necks and dogs.
Your dogs can eat turkey necks. As long as they’re freeze-dried, dry, or raw, turkey necks are safe for your pets. In fact, turkey necks can provide the following health benefits to canines:
Pack With Nutrients
Freeze-dried, dry, or raw turkey necks aren’t only safe for your fur babies; they also offer countless nutritional benefits necessary for your dogs’ overall health. These nutrients include:
- Protein: Your dogs need a sufficient amount of protein for their bodies to function properly. Protein also keeps your dog’s hair and skin healthy and expedites muscle and tissue repair.
- Glucosamine and chondroitin: When combined, these compounds act as a pain reliever for dogs, which can be very beneficial for dogs with joint pain. Glucosamine functions by numbing and relieving the pain, while chondroitin heals inflammation and prevents any further damage.
- Calcium: Calcium is essential in your dogs’ diets as it contributes to teeth maintenance, healthy bones, proper muscle building, and a healthy nervous system. Calcium also keeps your dogs’ hearts strong and lessens their risks of cardiovascular diseases.
- Phosphorous: Phosphorus is necessary for your dogs’ bones, teeth, and metabolism. It’s also responsible for keeping your dogs’ kidneys in tiptop condition and free from any diseases.
Impacts Joints and Improves Mobility
The oral supplementation of glucosamine and chondroitin positively impacts your dogs’ joint health as it provides relief to arthritis and improves the overall mobility of your pets. In fact, if your four-legged friends suffer from arthritis and its symptoms, chances are, your vet will recommend glucosamine and chondroitin as treatments.
Instead of giving your dogs the pill form of glucosamine and chondroitin, feeding them turkey necks is a better, more natural option. Glucosamine and chondroitin found in the connective tissue and cartilage of turkey necks are in bioavailable form, meaning they’re more digestible and ready to use.
Impacts Dental Health
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, dental diseases are one of the most common diseases among canines. More than 80% of dogs over the age of three have at least one active dental disease. The number of dogs diagnosed with dental diseases continues to grow annually.
One way to ensure the optimal dental health of your dogs is to brush their teeth regularly — something that turkey necks can help with. Chewing turkey necks can help remove the tartar and plaque build-up from your dogs’ teeth.
Offers Mental Benefits
Experts recommend giving Kong toys stuffed with treats and peanut butter to keep dogs busy. This prevents dogs from destroying or biting items around the house. Giving your fur babies turkey necks can provide the same sensation as they’re fun to chew on and provide entertainment to pets.
What Should You Consider When Giving Turkey Necks to Dogs?
Turkey necks are big and can even reach 12 inches in length. This is the reason why you should only feed turkey necks to medium and large dogs. This ensures your dogs’ safety as they won’t choke and experience intestinal blockages after eating turkey necks.
It’s also important to feed turkey necks in a supervised environment. Make sure that you can see your fur babies chewing and swallowing the pieces of turkey neck. If your dogs love to swallow things whole, hold the neck with one hand and let them chew off the small pieces first.
How Often Should Dogs Have Turkey Necks?
You can give your dogs half to one complete turkey neck no more than three times every week. Depending on your dogs’ activity levels and diets, consider reducing their meals on days when you give them turkey necks. It’s also essential to give them access to clean water, especially when you’re going to feed them dehydrated or freeze-dried turkey necks.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Turkey Necks?
No, you should never give your dogs cooked turkey necks. When cooked, the bones of the turkey neck change in structure and turn into glass-like materials. Cooked poultry bones are very pointy and sharp and can cause injuries to your dogs’ mouths and intestines.
How Should You Prepare Turkey Necks for Dogs?
There are two ways to serve turkey necks to dogs: raw or dehydrated. To prepare dehydrated turkey necks, simply air dry them slowly. Avoid drying the turkey necks using high temperatures. If you don’t want to go through all of these hassles, you can buy ready-made dehydrated turkey necks from pet stores.
As for raw turkey necks, make sure to buy frozen or fresh from your local supermarkets and groceries. If you choose frozen turkey necks, make sure to thaw them before feeding any to your fur babies.
What Other Parts of Turkey Can You Give Your Dogs?
You can give your dogs any part of a turkey, as long as it’s raw. For example, turkey thighs are excellent options for large breed dogs.
Work With Your Vet
Raw turkey needs are highly beneficial, but if it’s your first time giving turkey necks to your dogs, it’s best to consult your vet first. Vets can help you determine the proper way to introduce turkey necks to your dogs’ diets, as well as assess the right amount to give. With their help, your dogs can enjoy all the health benefits of turkey necks without any side effects!