With Christmas approaching it's not just humans who can enjoy some festive turkey. Our nutritionist explains what benefits dogs can get from eating turkey and other ingredients in our festive feast.

Christmas is a time of family, love and celebration but it isn’t complete without the grand Christmas dinner which, for many, involves a beautiful roast turkey with all the trimmings! The satisfaction of a warm comforting Christmas dinner shouldn’t just be for our two-legged family members but also our four legged.

Different Dog's Festive Turkey feast is exactly that. Its ingredients are not only nutritious, but incredibly satisfying for your dog too, providing the perfect balance between indulgence and health.

Turkey is a beautiful low-fat meat packed with the amino acid tryptophan, which is a vital component of the brain chemical serotonin.  Serotonin is then converted into the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, meaning that this meat is great to help your dog feel happy and relaxed.  Many behaviourists recommend feeding turkey for this exact reason. It is also loaded with B6 and B12 as well as Zinc making it a perfect protein to support the immune system during the dark drizzly winter weather.

Red cabbage is part of the brassica family with its stunning rich red/purple colour that loads this vegetable with powerful antioxidants. Red cabbage is also packed with vitamin C, K and B6 to support immune function, metabolism and nerve function ensuring all those tails keep wagging!

Parsnips are a sweet treat in the recipe and full of folate, which naturally reduce homocysteine levels in the blood, as well as potassium to support heart health. The vitamin C and folate also boost oral health by preventing gingivitis.

Butternut squash is a powerhouse of vitamins A and E, potassium and magnesium. Its manganese content aids enzymatic reactions of antioxidants. Animals deficient in manganese show a low function of superoxide dismutase, which is one of the most powerful antioxidants in the human body, sometimes referred to as the “primary” or “master” antioxidant.

All the veggies in the Festive Feast recipe are packed with insoluble fibre to support gut health and function feeding good bacteria in the gut, which in turn are responsible for producing nutrients like vitamin K2 and B12.

Garnishing’s of cranberry, mushrooms and sage support urinary tract health, digestion, prevention of gum disease and supporting the immune system. They cover vital phyto-nutrients not usually considered when making pet food but a vital to support optimal health.

This recipe will support your pup during the darkest winter period, serve warm whilst you tuck into your Christmas meal too!