Turkey bones get all the warnings, and for good reason. But the ASPCA’s Thanksgiving checklist for pets runs well past the carcass, and some of the riskiest items on it are the ones that look the most harmless on a kitchen counter.
With Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 26, there is still time to pick through the pantry, the dessert table and the guest room before the crowd arrives. Six hazards deserve a closer look, from a humble bouillon cube to a houseguest’s pill bottle.
Six Hazards Hiding in Plain Sight
The ASPCA says its poison control experts see the same holiday mistakes year after year. The six hazards below run from the pantry to the centerpiece, and the plant warning overlaps with these common houseplants that can be dangerous to cats and dogs. A home already stocked for company, as in this guide to getting the house guest-ready despite pet hair, should add these six to the walk-through.
1. Bouillon cubes. They show up in stuffing, gravy and soup, and the ASPCA warns that their high sodium content “can lead to gastrointestinal problems and even seizures” in pets.
2. Xylitol. This artificial sweetener turns up in some sugar-free desserts and baked goods. According to the ASPCA, it “can cause low blood sugar, liver damage or even death.” Xylitol also appears in this site’s ASPCA roundup of Thanksgiving foods to keep from dogs and cats and in the AAHA list of foods that can seriously harm dogs and cats. The American Veterinary Medical Association likewise lists xylitol, found in gum and sugar-free baked goods, as potentially deadly to dogs and cats.
The Dough, the Batter and the Pills
3. Raw yeast dough. A rising roll dough is not a snack. The ASPCA explains that raw dough can expand in a pet’s stomach, and the alcohol produced as it ferments can be absorbed, causing intoxication and other serious effects. Anyone proofing rolls should put the bowl somewhere a nose or paw cannot reach, which also helps with the Thanksgiving foods veterinarians say to keep away from dogs.
4. Raw eggs in batter. A lick of pie or cake batter is tempting to a dog on the counter’s edge, and the odd American traditions that confuse the rest of the world have nothing on a dog waiting by the dessert table. The ASPCA notes that raw eggs may carry salmonella bacteria that can lead to food poisoning.
5. Guests’ medications. Coats, purses and overnight bags tend to land on beds and floors at pet height. The ASPCA says “pets ingesting medication is all too common and can be very dangerous,” and recommends asking guests to keep their medications up and out of reach. Hosts who also travel for the holiday may want the same habit with family luggage sets for holiday trips, kept zipped and off the floor, or the carry-on suitcases worth packing this Thanksgiving.
Centerpieces and the Floral Arrangement Problem
6. Toxic plants and floral arrangements. Autumn bouquets and table greenery often arrive as gifts from guests. The ASPCA recommends checking holiday plants and arrangements against its toxic plants list before they go on the table.
The ASPCA adds a few bonus warnings that round out the six. Onions and garlic, common in holiday dishes, are toxic to pets, and the ASPCA says chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures and abnormal heart rhythm. Poultry bones are a choking risk, and the AVMA warns that even a small amount of rich, fatty turkey skin can trigger pancreatitis. It lists onions, grapes, raisins and chocolate as dangers too.
Where the Turkey Bones Fit In
None of this makes the bones less important. The AVMA advises sealing the turkey carcass and bones in a tightly closed bag kept in a closed container outdoors or behind a closed door, and the ASPCA suggests emptying the kitchen trash often or keeping pets out of that area altogether.
The ASPCA’s advice is to keep pets on their normal diet and, if a bite is shared, to make it boneless and fully cooked.
If a pet may have eaten something toxic, the ASPCA says to contact a veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 right away. The AVMA adds that sudden behavior changes, depression, pain, vomiting or diarrhea are reasons to call a veterinarian immediately.
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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Image: Mark Miller – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons
