Make a special homemade treat for your dog on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is all about giving thanks, family, tradition and food.

While cooking Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends is the focus for several weeks, it can also include cooking a special treat for our dogs. Since more people are making and baking their own food and treats for their pets, there are a lot of recipes available.

I found one provided by the HSUS for sweet potato jerky. (As always, consult your veterinarian with any questions regarding diet and nutrition for your dog). This recipe is simple and doesn't involve a lot of time.

Use fresh, raw sweet potatoes, preferably large ones.

Preheat your oven to 225F (107C).

Making sure there is no mold on the skins, scrub the sweet potatoes. The number of sweet potatoes you use will depend on the amount of jerky strips you want to make for your dog.

Cut the sweet potatoes lengthwise into ½- to ⅔-inch strips and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake the sweet potato strips for three to four hours. For crunchier treats, bake them longer. You can taste them yourself along the way.

Allow the strips to cool before storing them in an airtight container.

As with all jerky, monitor your pet and adjust the size of the pieces so they are appropriate for your dog and don't present a choking hazard.

Make sure the treats aren't moldy when you give them to your dog, as this would present a health hazard.

I made these treats for my dog, who doesn't really care about treats or cookies, and he readily accepted one and ate it.

In addition to giving healthy foods to our pets, the HSUS notes we should avoid the urge to give them table scraps, especially bones. Bones easily splinter and can cause serious health problems, even death.

Thanksgiving dinner festivities and guests may be stressful on our dogs, so give them a calm, safe place with food, water, toys and soft music. After the festivities, take him for a nice, slow walk around the block.

Spending some extra quiet time with our dog during the holidays is something for which to be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!