Thanksgiving Foods Dogs Can Eat

Dogs can have a few bites of plain turkey meat, green beans, sweet potato and pumpkin — but bones, skin, gravy, stuffing, pie and anything with onion or garlic should stay off their plate. Holiday meals are one of the busiest times of year for vet emergencies, mostly from fatty scraps and things stolen from the counter or trash.

The plate-by-plate chart

Holiday food	Can dogs eat it?	Why
Turkey meat (plain, no skin, no bones)	Yes, a few pieces	Lean protein
Turkey skin, fat, drippings	No	Very fatty; can trigger pancreatitis
Turkey or ham bones	No	Splinter; choking and blockages
Gravy	No	Fat, salt, often onion or garlic
Stuffing / dressing	No	Onion, garlic, sometimes raisins and nuts
Ham	No	Very salty and fatty
Mashed potatoes	Only plain boiled potato	Butter, cream, garlic, salt
Sweet potato (plain, cooked)	Yes, a spoonful	Fiber; skip marshmallows and sugar
Sweet potato casserole	No	Sugar, butter, marshmallows, sometimes nuts
Green beans (plain)	Yes	Low calorie
Green bean casserole	No	Fried onions, creamy soup
Carrots (plain)	Yes	Crunchy, low calorie
Cranberry sauce	Skip	Mostly sugar; some mixes include raisins or grapes
Plain pumpkin (not pie filling)	Yes, a spoonful	Fiber
Pumpkin or pecan pie	No	Sugar, fat, nutmeg; possible xylitol; nuts
Bread rolls	A small plain piece	Empty calories; never raw dough
Raw bread dough	No	Rises in the stomach and produces alcohol
Corn on the cob	No	Cobs cause intestinal blockages
Mixed nuts	No	Macadamias are toxic; others are fatty
Wine, beer, cocktails	No	Dogs are very sensitive to alcohol
Chocolate desserts	No	Theobromine — see our chocolate chart

Make a dog plate ahead of time

Before guests arrive, set aside a small portion for your dog: a few pieces of plain turkey breast, a spoonful of plain green beans and a spoonful of plain pumpkin. Serve it in their own bowl at mealtime — and reduce dinner a little so the extra calories don’t add up. The dog food calculator shows your dog’s daily total.

House rules for the big day

• Tell guests “no feeding from the table” — kids especially.
• Give your dog a quiet space with water and a long-lasting chew during the meal.
• Clear plates quickly and don’t leave food on low tables.
• Use a lidded trash can or take the trash out. A turkey carcass, string and foil in the bin are a serious risk.
• Watch the door — busy entrances are when dogs slip out.

Signs something went wrong

Call your vet if your dog has repeated vomiting, a painful or swollen belly, diarrhea, weakness, tremors, or tries to vomit without bringing anything up. Fatty-food pancreatitis can show up a day or two after the meal.

Holidays in Australia

Christmas lunch in Australia often means ham, prawns, barbecues and pavlova in 35°C (95°F) heat. The same rules apply — no ham, no cooked bones, no prawn shells, no grapes or fruit cake — plus heat safety: see how to keep your dog cool.

More details on the riskiest foods in Part 1 and Part 2 of our foods-to-avoid list.