Somewhere under every Thanksgiving table sits a dog with perfect posture and a very convincing look of starvation. Everyone at the table knows better, and yet one small bite always seems to slide off a fork.
The good news is that a few holiday staples really can be shared with pets, as long as they stay plain. Guidance from the American Kennel Club, the ASPCA and the American Veterinary Medical Association points to four foods that usually pass the test, along with one part of the turkey that should never reach the floor.
1. Plain Turkey
Turkey is the food pets are most likely to be offered, and plain, cooked meat is fine in small portions. Dr. Sara Ochoa, a small animal and exotic veterinarian in Texas, told the American Kennel Club that turkey is okay “as long as it has not been prepared with any seasoning.” The AKC page was updated Nov. 3.
The American Veterinary Medical Association puts the rule in three words: plain, boneless and skinless, in small portions. The ASPCA agrees that any meat shared with a pet should be boneless and fully cooked. Anyone whose dog is a professional beggar can find the opposite list in this list of Thanksgiving foods veterinarians say to keep away from dogs, and the kitchen mess that follows a pet-heavy holiday is covered in a comparison of vacuums for pet hair and house guests.
2. Green Beans
Green beans appear on more than one list. Dr. Gary Richter, a veterinarian and author of The Ultimate Pet Health Guide, calls plain green beans a good choice because they provide fiber, manganese and vitamins C and K, according to the AKC. The ASPCA also suggests mixing green beans into a pet’s regular meal.
The key word is plain. The AKC advises setting aside a portion before butter, salt or other toppings go on, and a casserole with fried onions and cream soup is a different dish entirely. Onions and garlic are both common in Thanksgiving recipes, and the ASPCA warns that both can be toxic to pets. The veterinary group AAHA has issued a similar caution, covered in this report on its list of Thanksgiving foods that can seriously harm dogs and cats, and the quirks of the holiday itself are the stuff of odd American traditions that confuse the rest of the world.
3. Plain Potatoes
Boiled or baked potatoes with nothing added are acceptable, according to the AKC. The mashed potatoes that usually land on the table are another story, because the butter, cream, onions, garlic and rich seasonings that make them taste like a holiday are exactly what the AKC says to skip.
That means the plain portion has to be scooped out before anything else goes in the pot. Cat households tend to wonder whether any of this applies to them, and a practical look at one pet-care purchase is in whether a self-cleaning litter box is worth it. Anyone curious about what else the dog is communicating while it stares at the plate can read five reasons a dog stares.
4. Plain Sweet Potatoes
Plain mashed sweet potatoes are generally safe, the AKC reports. Richter notes that they are a good source of fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C and beta-carotene. The ASPCA also suggests sweet potatoes as part of a small pet plate alongside turkey and green beans.
The holiday versions are the trap, since brown sugar, marshmallows and maple syrup all land on the AKC’s avoid list. The ASPCA also suggests putting pet treats into a puzzle toy to keep animals busy during the meal, and families heading out of town for the holiday can compare carry-on suitcases that skip the checked-bag fee this Thanksgiving. The full list of what to avoid is in this rundown of the ASPCA’s Thanksgiving warnings.
Why the Turkey Skin Stays Out
The skin is the part of the bird most likely to be tossed to a pet, and it is the part veterinarians most want to see kept away. The AKC says skin is high in fat and often coated in butter or oil, which raises the risk of pancreatitis and other digestive problems. The AVMA says turkey skin and fat are hard for pets to digest, and even small amounts may cause pancreatitis.
Bones are the other no. The AKC’s chief veterinarian, Dr. Klein, advises against them because cooked bones can splinter and cause choking or internal injuries, and the ASPCA calls poultry bones a major choking hazard. The ASPCA also warns that raw or undercooked turkey may contain salmonella bacteria. If a pet gets into something it should not have, the ASPCA says to contact a veterinarian or call ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 immediately.
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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Image: istolethetv – CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons
