Can dogs have turkey?

Dogs love meat! The simple smell of meat can cause dogs to drool. As a result, you may be tempted to share a bite off your plate. But before you do so, can dogs eat turkey? Is turkey bad for dogs or beneficial?

Turkey is perfectly safe for dogs to eat. This meat can offer dogs a variety of natural health benefits. So if your dog hasn’t tried turkey, consider adding it to their food rotation. 

The best way for your dog to reap the benefits of this protein is to feed them turkey dog food. Meat is best for dogs it’s properly formulated to meet their nutritional needs and balanced with natural nutrients in other whole foods. 

Beef and chicken are the most readily available protein sources in dog food. Turkey is less common. Lucky for your pups, Sundays for Dogs has an All-Natural Turkey dog food recipe available for dogs of all life stages. 

The Benefits of Turkey for Dogs

As a main source of protein, turkey offers dogs a variety of health benefits that support their immunity, digestion, energy level, and overall satisfaction at mealtime.

Turkey is an allergy-friendly protein.

Can dogs eat turkey if they have seasonal or food allergies? Absolutely. Turkey is considered to be a novel protein. Novel proteins are meat sources that your dog has not been exposed to before and therefore is less likely to be an allergen. 

Some dogs are allergic to more proteins like chicken and beef, which can be found in most dog foods and treats. If your dog has food or seasonal allergies, consider switching to a recipe that features a novel protein like turkey that they have not been exposed to before. Your dog’s digestive system may be less sensitive to the novelty of a protein like turkey. 

Turkey is rich in natural vitamins and minerals.

Another perk of turkey in dog food is that it can support a limited ingredient profile. Since turkey is so rich in natural vitamins and minerals, you’ll need fewer ingredients in the recipe overall. Some vital nutrients naturally found in turkey include: 

• Phosphorus: a mineral that combines with calcium to improve your dog's bone strength, muscle growth and tooth health
• Potassium: aids in the functioning of electrical charges in your dog’s heart, nerves, and muscles
• B vitamins: these vitamins are responsible for glucose generation, red blood cell and nervous system function, hormone regulation, immune response, niacin synthesis, and gene activation and help facilitate enzyme function
• Choline: an essential nutrient for dogs that impacts healthy brain development, muscle function, heart health, liver function as well as the nervous system

Along with having 80%+ real turkey meat, Sundays’ turkey dog food is a limited-ingredient diet. We use a minimal amount of ingredients to reduce the risk of allergic reactions in your pup. 

Turkey is highly digestible.

Can dogs have turkey if they have sensitive stomachs? Turkey has a rich amino acid profile, which makes it a good protein choice for pups with digestive issues. 

Amino acids act as the building blocks of protein and other vital functions. They can help grow and repair body tissue, provide natural energy, build muscle, and boost immune systems. 

Turkey provides a moderate source of fat.

Just like humans, dogs need fat in their diets. That being said, the amount of fat a dog consumes should complement their activity level. Fat from protein will provide dogs with energy, but if that energy is not used it can lead to weight gain. 

Turkey is a nice middle-ground source of fat for dogs who may not be superior athletes but are moderately active. A turkey-based diet will support the energy they need without providing fat they won’t use. 

Turkey is a more sustainable dog food protein.

Not only is turkey great for a dog’s overall health and wellness, but it also has a lower carbon footprint. Manufacturing of other popular protein sources in dog food have a larger impact on the environment. So choosing turkey is good for your dog and better for the environment. 

Does Turkey Make Dogs Sleepy?

Is turkey bad for dogs that struggle with low energy? When considering turkey dog food, your mind may immediately jump to that food coma you experience after eating Thanksgiving turkey. But the experience between tryptophan and dogs is different from your own–especially when formulated specifically for a dog’s daily diet. 

Most turkey dog food recipes have other ingredients to support your pup’s energy needs. So there’s no need to worry about excessive sleepiness as a side effect if you choose turkey dog food. 

Our All-Natural Turkey recipe is vet-formulated and extensively tested to ensure complete support for your dogs’ optimal health and wellness. Even if your pup struggles with low energy, our human-grade dog food contains superfood ingredients to naturally boost and regulate energy levels.