Thanksgiving night is one of the few nights a year where we can stuff our faces with delicious food, and no one would bat an eye. But just because it’s OK for you to stuff your face, that doesn’t mean it’s OK for the furry members of your family.
Here’s a list of what’s OK to slip under the table, and what is not.
Turkey
Yes and no, according to the American Kennel Club.
Turkey is not per se toxic to dogs. It is an ingredient in many commercial dog foods and is rich in nutrients like protein, riboflavin, and phosphorous. However, a turkey drenched with butter and oils can be disruptive to your dog’s digestive system.
If you decide to feed your dog turkey this Thanksgiving, skip the skin. Make sure you only feed your dog turkey meat. Feed your dog only small quantities of turkey, and make sure there are no bones in the meat you feed your dog.
Stuffing
No, according to Pets Best Pet Health Insurance. Stuffing is often made with onions, scallions or garlic. These ingredients, however, are extremely toxic to dogs and cats and can cause a life-threatening anemia (destruction of the red blood cells). It’s best to avoid feeding any amount of stuffing to pets.
Mashed Potato
Yes and no. Potatoe is typically safe for your dog to eat. That is, unless they contain sour cream, butter or gravy, which are usually part of the Thanksgiving recipe. If you do feed this to your dog, he or she may get diarrhea.
Only feed small portions of mashed potatoes to your dog if it is free from these add-ins. The same goes for sweet potatoes!
Bread
Yes, in moderation. According to the AKC, plain white and wheat bread is generally safe for dogs to eat, provided they don’t have any allergies, and it usually does not cause any stomach upset.
The biggest danger comes from raisins. Raisins are highly toxic and are often found in breads and baked goods. Veterinarians don't know why some dogs are more susceptible to raisins than others, but even a few raisins can cause problems. Raisin breads should be kept out of the reach of dogs at all times and should not be fed as a treat, even if the part you are feeding does not contain raisins.
Dessert
Not really. Pumpkin pie might sound safe since fresh pumpkin is good for dogs. But it’s the pie filling that might be dangerous.
Chocolate, on the other hand, is very TOXIC to dogs and cats. Keep all chocolate desserts out of their reach during the festivities. If your pet does ingest chocolate on Thanksgiving, be sure to call your veterinarian immediately.
But as a rule of thumb, sugar is generally bad for dogs. Better safe than sorry!
