It's hard enough to ignore your dog's sweet, hungry, and downright tortured "begging face" during a typical dinner, but it's even harder on Thanksgiving when we're filling our plates high with delicious-smelling goodies.
While some of your leftovers can add much-appreciated protein and vegetables to their diet, there is also danger lurking at the table. Here's a quick look at which Thanksgiving foods are not safe for dogs:
- Turkey skin
- Onions
- Garlic
- Leeks
- Shallots
- Scallions
- Cooked bones
- Alcohol
- Nuts
- Desserts
- Cranberry sauce
- Glazed dishes
- Sugar
- Artificial sweeteners
- Raw bread dough
Read on to learn why you should avoid feeding your dog these Thanksgiving dishes and ingredients.
Turkey skin
While turkey meat is a wonderful treat for your pet, make sure to leave off the skin. Due to its high fat content, turkey skin is hard for dogs to digest and can lead to complications like
pancreatitis. Turkey skin may also be seasoned with spices that aren't safe for dogs, like onion and garlic.
Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, and scallions
Any vegetables in the allium family should be avoided. While they're usually okay in small amounts, ingesting large quantities can lead to severe problems like
toxic anemia.
You should also avoid giving your dog any dishes containing these ingredients, like stuffing, dressing, and garlic mashed potatoes.
Cooked bones
While your pup can chew on raw
bones all day long,
cooked bones present a bit of danger. Due to their soft nature, they commonly splinter and can easily lodge in your pet's throat, causing them to
choke.
Alcohol
Yes, it seems like an obvious no-no, but it's easy to get carried away with the holiday spirit and let your pet have a few sips here and there. Even the smallest amounts of
alcohol can be toxic to dogs. This also applies to alcohol used in baked goods, such as the rum baked into a fruit cake.
Nuts
A good saying to keep in mind is, "You'd need to be nuts to feed your pet nuts." Even just a few nuts can cause dogs to go into toxic shock.
Nuts that you should avoid feeding your dog include:
(You can, however, feed your dog peanuts, cashews, and pistachios without the shell, in moderation.)
Desserts
You may be tempted to pass your dog a slice of pumpkin pie, but it’s best to save this fall dish for your human guests. Most fall treats — like candy, cakes, and pies — have too much added sugar for your dog.
Some varieties of candy and gum also contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that's extremely toxic to dogs. If you really want your dog to enjoy a sweet treat with you, try offering a small dish of homemade whipped cream.
Cranberry sauce & glazed dishes
Cranberry sauce is very high in added sugar and should not be shared with your dog. The same goes for any other holiday side dishes which may have an added sugary glaze, like glazed carrots or ham.
Sugar and artificial sweeteners
Avoid foods made with sugar and
artificial sweeteners. Large amounts of sugar can cause a dog's blood glucose levels to go out of wack and make them more likely to become overweight.
Artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols like xylitol are incredibly poisonous to dogs, even in minimal amounts.
Xylitol can trigger a life-threatening reaction within 10 minutes of consumption.
Chocolate
Theobromine in chocolate can cause strain on a canine's heart and can even be deadly in high doses. The amount of theobromine that chocolate contains depends on the manufacturer and type of chocolate, so you never know how it could affect your pup.
Raw bread dough
Keep raw bread dough out of your dog’s reach. When ingested, raw bread dough ferments rapidly, releasing carbon dioxide gas and ethanol in the stomach, which can cause severe
bloating and alcohol toxicity.
Many dogs love holiday gatherings, because there’s a good chance someone will be slipping them some snacks under the table. Before you sit down to enjoy your favorite fall meals, make sure you and your guests know what’s safe to share with your dog. Below are some dog-safe foods that you can feel good about giving your woofer.
Here's a quick look at the Thanksgiving foods that are generally safe for dogs in moderation:
- Turkey meat
- Fresh cranberries
- Apples
- Bread/rolls
- Carrots
- Pumpkin
- Sweet potatoes
- Peas
- Green beans
- Squash
- Eggs
- Oats
- Brown rice
- Spinach
- All-natural peanut butter
Read on to learn how these dishes and ingredients can benefit your pup's health, plus some tips for serving them safely.
Turkey
Baked turkey is an excellent source of protein and healthy fats for pupperinos, but certain parts of your Thanksgiving turkey can cause a host of problems. Poultry bones are brittle and pointy and can get
lodged in the digestive tract. Only give your pups turkey meat without bones.
Cranberries
Fresh
cranberries are fine to give to your dog, although most pups dislike the bitter taste! As we mentioned above, avoid giving your dog any cranberry sauce, which is typically loaded with sugar.
Apples
Apple slices make a great snack for hungry doggos! Try dipping slices of apple in peanut butter for an extra tasty treat your dog will go nuts for.
And while many pet care websites are quick to caution pet parents about the dangers of apple seeds, the truth is that your dog would need to eat a lot of crushed apple seeds to experience any toxic effects. Still, it’s best not to feed your dog the apple core, which can cause
obstructions if swallowed whole.
Bread/rolls
It’s safe for your pup to have a small piece of
bread or roll as long as it's fully cooked and doesn’t contain any toxic ingredients like garlic, onions, or
raisins.
Carrots
Raw, boiled, or roasted
carrots are all fantastic (and healthy!) treats for hungry puppos. Just make sure there’s nothing added in, like glazes or flavorings.
Pumpkin
Adding pumpkin to your dog's diet has many benefits. When baking for Thanksgiving, save a few scoops of 100% pure, cooked pumpkin for Fido. You could also use leftover pumpkin to make
fall-inspired dog treats! Avoid giving your dog any canned pumpkin pie filling, which often contains toxic ingredients, like nutmeg.
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a great complex carb and are full of vitamins (and flavor!). This starchy tuber is even considered one of the
best foods for dogs with digestive problems. Just avoid toppings like marshmallows and butter. Serve them in moderation, because too much can upset sensitive tummies.
Peas
Another protein-rich food that dogs can eat on Thanksgiving, peas boast an incredible nutrient profile and are chock full of vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and phytonutrients. Green peas, snow peas, and English peas all get the vet
seal of approval for their high levels of vitamins and minerals.
Peas aren’t recommended for dogs with kidney problems, though, because they contain purine, which is hard on the kidneys.
Green beans
Unseasoned green beans are another holiday delicacy that doggies can dine on. Raw, roasted, and low-sodium canned green beans are all suitable for canines.
Squash
Spaghetti,
acorn, summer, and
butternut squash are all safe foods to offer your woofer. What’s more, each variety has unique vitamin and mineral profiles to nourish your pup.
Eggs
Eggs are a super nutrient-dense food, and almost all dogs enjoy them. One large
egg packs a whopping 6 grams of protein and a mere 70 calories, making it a great choice of treat for health conscious pups. Avoid giving your dog deviled eggs, which often contain ingredients that can cause stomach upset, like salt and paprika.
Oats
Oats are a terrific source of fatty acids and vitamins for our canine companions, but that’s not all. They’re also high in fiber, which can help with digestion and keep your pet feeling full for longer.
Brown rice
Brown rice can (and should!) be a healthy part of your pet’s diet. In fact, many vets recommend it for stomach upset! Brown rice is easy on the stomach, helps pets feel satiated, and is a great source of B vitamins.
Spinach
Spinach is one of the healthiest foods a dog can eat since it contains a slew of vitamins, minerals, and compounds and has a negligible calorie content (just 7 calories per 30 grams).
Peanut butter
Peanut butter is a great source of energy since it contains a hearty dose of
protein and fat. But be mindful of how much you’re giving your pet since too much can cause weight gain or blood sugar spikes. It’s also important to avoid sugar-free peanut butter made with xylitol since this is extremely toxic to dogs.