Pets and Their People Blog

Thanksgiving is a time to get together with family and friends and for you to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Here are some foods that you should keep away from your dog at Thanksgiving:

• Turkey skin, cooked bones and dark meat. Turkey skin and the dark meat are high in fat and could cause pancreatitis. Turkey skin is hard to digest and if you marinade it or use spices or oil then the skin keeps hold of these when cooked making it unsafe for your dog. Cooked turkey and ham bones can splinter causing internal damage if they are eaten by your dog. Plain white turkey meat is safe for your dog to eat in moderation.
• Onions, garlic and chocolate contain substances that are toxic to dogs as do certain nuts, especially black walnuts and macadamia nuts.
• Nutmeg. This spice can cause your dog to have fits and affect your dog’s central nervous system if eaten.

Both sweet potato and pumpkin are good for your dog in small amounts but make sure they are nutmeg free before giving them to your dog to enjoy.

• Dough. Uncooked dough left out to prove can rise in your dog’s tummy if eaten, bloating their tummy and causing pain.
• Alcohol. Any alcohol is dangerous for dogs. Beer is a particular hazard as hops, used to make beer, are toxic to dogs.

Keeping these festive foods out of reach of your dog can help you enjoy the holiday season and keep your canine friend safe too.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

About the Author

Caroline Ward is a UK based dog trainer and managing director of her own business FITdogs Club, which was born in 2016. She has gained her IABTC instructor and IABTC Clicker and target (levels 1-3). Caroline attended several workshops in puppy training, life skills and cognition, including the Dog’s Mind and Social Learning in Puppies with Claudia Fugazza (2019) and most recently Chirag Patel’s online puppy training workshop (2023). 

Caroline is a committee member of the Pet Professional Guild (canine division). She loves helping puppies and dogs create a bond through play, fun and training, with a special interest in canine cognition and how dogs feel, which is something she would like to develop in the future.