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Thanksgiving Day Foods: Are They Dog-Friendly?

As you’re creating the menu for your Thanksgiving Day feast, you may be surprised by some of the traditional holiday treats and ingredients your canine – and feline - should not eat!

Thanksgiving Day Foods: Are They Dog-Friendly?

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching

and so will those sad, puppy eyes that scream “feed me!”

Thanksgiving day foods, are they dog friendly?

As you’re creating the menu for your Thanksgiving Day feast, you may be surprised by some of the traditional holiday treats and ingredients your canine – and feline – should not eat!

Keep reading to learn which holiday foods to keep out of reach of your pet’s inquisitive nose and hungry mouth. Also, remind dinner guests to not feed table scraps to the family dog – or cat – no matter how hard they beg!

Keep all holiday foods, beverages, snacks and treats out of reach on counters, dining room tables, coffee tables, end tables and even bookshelves. Better yet, limit your dog’s access to these areas with sturdy baby gates or a crate.

Remember, the smaller the dog, the faster – and more toxic – the adverse effects!

Fat Trimmings, Turkey Skin, Gravy & Stuffing

It may seem harmless to let dogs consume turkey skin or fat trimmings. But the reality is high levels of fat can cause mild to life-threatening symptoms which could eventually lead to diabetes and heart arrhythmias for your dog. Also, the skin has typically been covered in marinade, spices, butter and/or oils making it even more hazardous to your pet’s health. Only give your dog small amounts of unseasoned white meat.

Cooked Bones

Whether you are serving a turkey or ham for your holiday dinner, never feed your dog the cooked bones, no matter their size! Cooked bones are brittle and can easily splinter. Any swallowed pieces can puncture or even block the digestive tract with life-threatening consequences. Keep all bones away from your dog (especially in the trash).

Onions & Garlic

Avoid all forms of onions and garlic including powdered, raw, cooked and dehydrated. Both can attack and destroy your dog’s red blood cells with sulfides and lead to anemia. Leeks, scallions and chives are also off-limits. Onions are more toxic than garlic and cooking does not reduce their toxicity! Be sure to avoid letting your K9 eat any stuffing or other dishes that contain onions or garlic.

Infographic: 12 Thanksgiving Day Foods that Could Kill Your Dog

Grapes, Raisins & Currants

These fruits can potentially cause irreparable kidney failure in our four-legged companions. Even a small amount can pose a deadly threat.

Yeast Dough (Unbaked)

Ingested raw yeast dough can continue to expand in your dog’s stomach causing:

Severe pain; and
Rupturing the stomach or intestines.

In addition, the process of fermentation (which causes the dough to rise), also creates alcohol, a dangerous toxin for canines and felines.

Pumpkin Pie Filling or Mix

While pure pumpkin (canned or fresh) is a nutritious addition to your dog’s diet and overall health. The fiber helps with digestion and even diarrhea – in small amounts and constipation (in larger amounts) as well as weight loss.

But pumpkin pie filling or mix is not good for your K9. Pie filling or mix contains added sugar, fat and spices (especially nutmeg that can cause seizures, nervous system issues and even death!) and preservatives.

Sweet Potatoes and Yams

Fresh, cooked sweet potatoes and yams are also wonderful for your dog’s health. Like pumpkin, pure sweet potatoes and yams with no added ingredients (including toxic nutmeg), can also help with diarrhea, constipation and even weight loss. But do not feed your dog sweet potatoes or yams with added ingredients like marshmallows, spices or the sugary syrup most canned products contain.

Sage

While tasty in stuffing and other Thanksgiving goodies, sage can create stomach upset and indigestion for dogs who ingest it because of the essential oils sage contains. Even worse this common herb can also lead to challenging issues with K9 liver and kidneys.

Disclaimer: This blog post should be used as a guide. This post is not an exhaustive list of every potentially bad Thanksgiving food, beverage, treat or ingredient your dog should avoid.

To learn more, read the additional resources listed below.