Thanksgiving is the one day a year your dog gets the saddest eyes in the house. It’s tempting to slide a little turkey under the table. Some of it is fine. Two parts are not: the skin and the bones.
Turkey skin: skip it
Turkey skin is mostly fat, and it’s usually covered in butter, salt, and seasonings. A sudden load of rich, fatty food is a common trigger for an upset stomach in dogs, and in some dogs it can lead to pancreatitis, which is painful and often means a vet visit. Small dogs and dogs who’ve had stomach trouble before are at higher risk.
Cooked turkey bones: never
Cooked bones get brittle and can splinter. Sharp pieces can hurt the mouth, get stuck in the throat, or cause blockages and injuries farther down. Wishbones, drumstick bones, and the carcass are all on the “no” list. Take the carcass straight out to the outside trash with the lid closed, because a dog who gets into the trash can eat a lot of bones fast.
What’s safer
A small amount of plain, cooked white turkey meat, with no skin, no bones, no gravy, and no seasoning, is the safer choice for most healthy dogs. Keep it small, think a few bites, not a plate. If your dog has a health condition or a special diet, ask your vet first.
Holiday foods to keep off the plate entirely
- Grapes and raisins, including stuffing or desserts with raisins in them.
- Onions and garlic, which are in most stuffing, gravy, and seasoned dishes.
- Xylitol, a sweetener found in some sugar-free desserts, gum, and peanut butter.
- Chocolate, especially dark and baking chocolate.
- Fatty scraps and gravy, for the same reason as the skin.
Tell guests and kids the rule before dinner starts. Most holiday stomach trouble comes from five people each sneaking “just one bite.”
If your dog gets into something
Call your vet or an emergency vet right away if your dog ate bones, something on the list above, or a big pile of fatty food, or if you see vomiting, a swollen or painful belly, or a dog who won’t eat. You can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply).
Keep everyday food safe too
The holidays are a good time to check the food your dog eats every day. Our free 60-second Dog Food Safety Check shows you how to find the lot code on your bag and check it against recalls.
Take the free Dog Food Safety Check
This article is general education, not veterinary advice. If your dog seems unwell, call your veterinarian.