Thanksgiving Foods Dogs and Cats Shouldn't Eat: A Table-Scrap Guide

The table-scrap table

Use this as the quick reference for the kitchen and the dining room. Each row reflects guidance from the ASPCA, the AVMA or the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, linked in the sources below.

Turkey skin, fat, gravy and drippings

The most common Thanksgiving handout is also one of the riskiest. The AVMA names gravy, sauces, dressing, and poultry fat or skin as foods that are hard for animals to digest.

The concern is pancreatitis, an inflamed pancreas. The FDA's holiday guidance says fat trimmings and roasted poultry skin can upset the stomach or cause pancreatitis, which can be life-threatening. The AVMA adds that sometimes even a small amount of fatty food can set it off.

Signs to watch for

According to the FDA, pancreatitis in dogs can show up as vomiting, stomach pain, restlessness, shaking, diarrhea, fever or weakness. In cats the signs are easier to miss: mainly a drop in appetite and weight loss.

If your dog snatched the turkey skin off a plate and starts vomiting or acting uncomfortable later that day or the next, call your vet. Don't wait for it to pass.

Onions, garlic and the stuffing problem

Onions, garlic and chives are Allium plants. The ASPCA says they can irritate the gut and damage red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. Cats are more susceptible, but dogs are at risk too, depending on how much they eat.

On Thanksgiving, alliums hide in plain sight. Stuffing, gravy, many casseroles, mashed potatoes made with garlic, and the drippings from a turkey roasted on onions can all carry them. That is why a spoonful of "just stuffing" is not a safe treat.

Grapes, raisins, xylitol and nutmeg

The dessert table and the appetizer spread are where several unrelated hazards meet.

Grapes and raisins

The ASPCA links grapes and raisins to kidney damage in dogs and suspects tartaric acid as the cause. The AVMA lists raisins and grapes among the Thanksgiving foods that are poisonous to pets. Watch the cheese board, the fruit bowl, raisin bread, and stuffings or salads made with dried fruit.

Xylitol in sugar-free desserts

Xylitol is a sugar substitute. The FDA says it can show up in sugar-free gum, mints, baked goods, desserts, some peanut and nut butters, and toothpaste. Labels may call it birch sugar or wood sugar.

In dogs, the FDA says low blood sugar can begin within 10 to 60 minutes. Vomiting usually comes first, followed by weakness, staggering, collapse or seizures. The ASPCA adds that liver damage can occur within 12 to 24 hours, depending on the amount.

If a guest brings a sugar-free pie, keep it out of reach and check the ingredient list. The FDA says xylitol does not appear to be as dangerous for cats, possibly because they tend to avoid sweets.

Nutmeg and pumpkin pie

The ASPCA says nutmeg contains a compound that, in large amounts, can cause vomiting, dry mouth, agitation, abnormal pupil size, fast heart rate, difficulty walking and even hallucinations. A lick of pie is not the same as a dog eating a spice-heavy dessert or getting into the spice jar.

The AVMA also warns that pumpkin pie and other desserts can contain toxic ingredients. Chocolate is one of them. The ASPCA says baking chocolate and cocoa powder carry the highest risk.

Raw dough, alcohol and turkey bones

Raw yeast dough

Dinner rolls rising on the counter are a real hazard. The ASPCA says raw yeast dough can keep rising in the digestive tract, causing painful bloating that can potentially twist the stomach. The yeast also produces alcohol as it ferments, so the dough can cause alcohol poisoning too.

Alcohol

Pets absorb alcohol quickly, according to the ASPCA. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, depression, breathing trouble and tremors, and severe cases can lead to coma and death. Half-finished drinks on low tables and spiked desserts are the usual routes.

Cooked bones and the carcass

The AVMA says poultry bones can damage the digestive tract, cause choking, or block the intestines. The FDA adds that turkey carcasses pulled from the trash can lodge in the esophagus, stomach or windpipe, and sharp pieces can injure the mouth and gut.

The FDA notes that blockage signs can appear hours to days later, including vomiting, diarrhea, low energy, not eating and belly pain. Immediate drooling, choking or vomiting means call your vet right away.

What pets can have

You don't have to leave your pet out entirely. The sources agree on a short, plain list.

• Plain turkey breast meat. The AVMA says plain, boneless, skinless turkey is generally safe in small portions. No skin, gravy or seasoning.
• Small pieces of pumpkin. The AVMA calls them a healthy snack. That means plain pumpkin, not pie filling or pie.
• A pet treat. The AVMA's fallback is a treat made specifically for pets. A stuffed puzzle toy or lick mat also keeps a dog busy during the meal; our guide to puzzle toys, lick mats and snuffle mats covers the options.

Ask guests not to feed your pet at all. It is the easiest way to keep the plain-turkey rule intact when there are a dozen people at the table.

A Thanksgiving-day plan

Most table-scrap emergencies happen when attention is elsewhere: carving, serving, cleaning up, or saying goodbye at the door. A little setup the day before covers those gaps.

1. Save the numbers. Put your vet, the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic, and both poison lines in your phone before the guests arrive.
2. Secure the trash. The AVMA recommends bagging the carcass, bones and scraps tightly, then putting the bag in a closed container outdoors or behind a securely closed door. A can with a locking lid helps if your dog has raided the kitchen bin before.
3. Close off the kitchen. A gate across the kitchen doorway keeps a dog away from counters, rising dough and the roasting pan while you cook.
4. Give anxious pets a quiet room. The AVMA suggests a separate room or crate with a favorite toy for pets who are nervous around visitors.
5. Watch the door. Pets can slip out as guests come and go. The AVMA recommends current ID and an up-to-date, registered microchip.
6. Brief the guests. No handouts, drinks off low tables, and plates cleared promptly.
7. Clean up before dessert. Clear the carving board and the roasting pan first, then take the trash out.

If you are already setting up gates for the season, our gates, skirts and barriers guide covers fit and placement for the tree as well.

If your pet eats something

Call first, then act. The AVMA's advice is to call your veterinarian or the local emergency clinic immediately, or a pet poison control line.

1. Move your pet away from the food and pick up what's left.
2. Note what was eaten, roughly how much, and when. Keep the packaging or recipe. The ASPCA asks callers for the amount.
3. Call your vet, an emergency clinic, or a poison line. Have your pet's approximate weight ready.
4. Don't make your pet vomit on your own. The ASPCA warns that home attempts can be dangerous. Hydrogen peroxide is for dogs only, and only under a veterinary professional's direction. Nothing at home is safe for making a cat vomit.
5. Follow the instructions you get, including going in for an exam if advised.

Signs that mean call a vet right away, per the AVMA: sudden behavior changes, depression, pain or discomfort, vomiting, or diarrhea.