Can Dogs Eat Thanksgiving Foods? See the Definitive Answer

Turkey

Luckily for your pup, the main part of the Thanksgiving dinner, turkey, is safe to consume. Turkey meat is high in protein and nutrients such as B vitamins. The healthiest type of turkey for both you and your dog is cooked white meat. Dark meat from the bird is higher in fat and calories, as is the skin, which provides little nutritional value. 

To avoid gastrointestinal and choking issues, make sure you give your pup white meat only with no skin and bones. The meat should be fully cooked without seasonings like onion, garlic, or too much butter. And despite a turkey bone sounding like a tasty treat for a dog, it’s too easy for your dog to swallow a piece, resulting in an intestinal blockage that requires a vet visit. Not how you want to spend your holiday.

Potatoes

Dogs can indulge in mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving too, with a few caveats. The potatoes should be as plain as possible, with no added butter, salt, or seasonings – all of which can cause gastrointestinal issues. Dogs can eat plain roasted potatoes as well. Avoid giving your dog raw or boiled potatoes. These can contain a substance called solanine. This can be potentially toxic for dogs. Solanine is not removed by boiling the potatoes, only by cooking them with other methods. 

Vegetables

Vegetables are a healthy thing for you and your dog to enjoy munching together.
As long as the veggies aren’t coated in things like butter and dressings, that is.  For example, your dog definitely shouldn’t be having the marshmallows on your sweet potato pie! But the plain sweet potato is fine for them. Otherwise, these typical Thanksgiving veggies are safe when served plain: cauliflower, carrots, broccoli, green beans, and celery.

Cranberries

A Thanksgiving staple, cranberries are packed with antioxidants. When fed plain, they can even be healthy for your dog. Let your pup enjoy them fresh, frozen, or dried. However, stay away from any cranberries artificially sweetened with xylitol, a dangerous ingredient for dogs. It’s extremely toxic.

Pumpkins

Pumpkin is a great food for dogs. It’s often suggested that you add a scoop of canned pumpkin to your dog’s food if they have an upset stomach, such as diarrhea or constipation. Canned pumpkin is recommended over fresh pumpkin because it’s higher in fiber and nutrients, as well as easier to digest. 

However, pumpkin pie is a definite no-no because of what else is in the pie. Many spices are toxic to dogs such as nutmeg, clove, and allspice. “These spices can cause liver failure,” says Harris. Feel free to make your dog their own pie, using nothing but plain old pumpkin.

Stuffing

This Thanksgiving food isn’t bad for dogs in itself. It’s the ingredients in it that are. Usually, stuffing is seasoned with garlic, onion, or raisins, all of which are very toxic to dogs. Eating these ingredients can actually damage a dog’s red blood cells. Signs of poisoning by these ingredients include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. This is one of those foods that you should tell your dog no to unless it is simply plain bread crumbs. 

Nuts

Nuts are popular in many Thanksgiving recipes but keep those foods away from Fido. Most nuts are toxic to dogs, including walnuts and macadamia nuts, which are extremely so. Peanuts, since they are a legume, are just fine. But only allow your dog to have a small amount of unshelled, plain peanuts, the safest way for them to eat them. 

Bread

From rolls to cornbread, most breads are safe for dogs to sample over Thanksgiving. What’s not safe is bread with nuts in it, bread slathered with large amounts of butter, or unbaked bread dough. The uncooked yeast in the dough can ferment in the dog’s stomach, producing ethanol and carbon dioxide. This can lead to symptoms of alcohol poisoning and bloat. It can be deadly for your pet.