Thanksgiving Foods That Are Safe for Dogs and Those You Should Avoid

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Every year the veterinary industry sees a huge uptick in sick dog cases around Thanksgiving due to dogs being fed foods that are not safe for canine consumption. A large majority of traditional Thanksgiving foods are too greasy for dogs or cooked with toxic ingredients such as onions. Because of this, vet clinics are often full of pancreatitis and toxicity cases shortly after Thanksgiving dinner is finished. Of course, as dog parents we want to share the holiday festivities with our pups, but it’s important we make sure we’re doing so safely. Your dog can indulge in some of the yummy goodness from your holiday dinner, but before making them a plate, ensure you’re only giving them foods that are safe for them to eat. Today, I’m sharing which Thanksgiving foods are perfectly safe to share with your pups, and which ones you should avoid. 

Thanksgiving Foods that are Safe to Share With Your Dog

My dogs are like my children, so I make sure to include them in every holiday as much as possible. You can totally make your dog their very own Thanksgiving dinner plate, just make sure you’re only including safe, non toxic foods. Here are 6 Thanksgiving foods that are safe to share with your dog:

1. Turkey

What’s Thanksgiving without a turkey?! Turkey, like most other proteins, is perfectly safe and even healthy for your dog and can definitely be included on their plate this year. When giving your dog a share of the turkey, make sure you aren’t giving them any of the skin as it can be fatty and cause pancreatitis. You should also be sure to avoid large amounts of seasoning. 

Do not give your dog any bones from the turkey. While raw bones can be safe for dogs, cooked bones are absolutely not. Cooked bones can splinter and break very easily causing choking and blockage. If you’re sharing some turkey with your pup, keep it to just the meat itself, no skin or bones. 

2. Sweet Potatoes

Mashed sweet potato and sweet potato pie are Thanksgiving favorites in many households, and luckily, sweet potato is another food that can be safely shared with your dog. Sweet potato is a great source of fiber and contains essential nutrients such as vitamin B6 and vitamin C. If you plan to share some sweet potato with your dog, make sure you keep it separate from the sweet potato you’re using for your own dishes. Added ingredients used in human sweet potato recipes can be dangerous for dogs.

To prepare sweet potato for your dog you can dehydrate slices of it or bake it and create a dog friendly sweet potato mash without the butter and seasonings.

3. Green Beans

Green beans contain fiber, manganese, and vitamins such as C and K, making them a very healthy snack for dogs. You can safely add green beans to your dogs Thanksgiving dinner plate, just make sure to keep it separate from the butter, seasonings, and other ingredients you may be including in your own green bean dish. 

4. Apples

If apple pie is on your Thanksgiving dessert menu, you can safely set some apples aside ahead of time to give to your pup. Apples contain vitamins A and C and are perfectly healthy to share with your furry friend. When giving apples to your dog, be sure to cut out the core and avoid any seeds, as too many apple seeds can be toxic to your dog. 

5. Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a canine super food. It’s full of fiber and great for digestion and skin and coat health. If pumpkin is on your Thanksgiving shopping list, you can safely give your pup a scoop or two of the puree. Just be sure that you are giving them 100% pumpkin puree and not the pre seasoned pumpkin pie mixture. 

6. Cheese

If you’re planning on making a pre dinner cheese board, you can safely share a bit of the cheese with your dog. While dogs should not contain large amounts of lactose, small bits won’t cause any harm. 

Thanksgiving Foods You Should Not Share With Your Dog

While many Thanksgiving foods can be safely shared with your dog, especially before they have seasonings and other ingredients added, there are some foods that your pup should stay away from all together. Here are 6 foods you should avoid sharing with your dog on Thanksgiving:

1. Gravy

Gravy is made with the drippings from meat and therefore contains large amounts of fat which can cause pancreatitis in dogs. Aside from being extremely fatty, gravy often also contains toxic ingredients such as onions, garlic, and high amounts of sodium. 

2. Stuffing

Stuffing is made from bits of bread with onions and garlic to flavor it. Onions and garlic are both extremely toxic to dogs in large amounts and should be avoided at all costs. 

3. Dessert

While some ingredients used in making Thanksgiving pies are okay for dogs (such as sweet potato and pumpkin), desserts as a whole should be avoided for your dog. Desserts often contain high amounts of sugar which are not good for your dog. They can also contain xylitol, a sugar substitute that is extremely toxic to dogs and can be fatal if ingested. 

4. Alcohol

Most families enjoy a glass of wine or beer or maybe even a fun cocktail with Thanksgiving dinner, it is a holiday after all! However, dogs should never consume alcoholic beverages. Alcohol toxicity can occur if dogs consume large amounts of alcohol and it can be fatal. 

5. Raisins

Raisins and even grapes are often used in Thanksgiving recipes but they are highly toxic to dogs and should never be within reach of your furry friend. Even one single raisin or grape can be fatal to a dog if consumed. If your dog eats a raisin or grape, consult your vet immediately. 

6. Yeast Dough

While bread can be safely consumed by your dog in small amounts, bread dough should never be fed to your dog. If you’ve ever made bread from scratch, you know the dough has to spend hours in a warm and moist environment to rise. Unfortunately, a dogs stomach provides the optimum conditions from bread dough to rise. If your dog eats bread dough, there is a risk that it could rise in their stomach causing severe illness or bloat, which is often fatal. If you suspect your dog ate bread dough, take them to the nearest vet ASAP. 

Will you be making a Thanksgiving plate for your pup this year?