Thanksgiving Safety Tips

During this time each year, there is an uptick in dogs that end up at the vet for ingesting things that made them sick. So let’s keep your pup safe this year!

Foods To Avoid

Dogs should avoid eating turkey skin, bones, seasoning, garlic, sage, onion, nutmeg, alcohol, xylitol, chocolate, raisins/grapes, fatty foods, gravy, nuts, sage, dough/batter.

Dog-Safe Foods

In small amounts, sweet potato, apple, turkey meat (no skin, no bones), and green beans are safe as long as they are unseasoned and have no additional ingredients. Do not give your dog large amounts of any food they are not used to eating—you might really upset their stomach, trigger an allergy, or even cause pancreatitis which is life-threatening.

Don’t Underestimate Your Dog

Even a dog who has no history of stealing food or counter surfing – or a dog you don’t think can physically get onto counters—might be motivated enough to surprise you on Thanksgiving!

Clarify Rules for Guests

Be clear with guests ahead of time that they should not give your dog any food scraps—no matter how much they beg! (And also, if you catch your dog begging, you should address that with training to relieve your guests of the temptation!)

Keep Fido in Secure Spaces

Make sure your guests are aware of the importance of properly closing and latching gates, doors, etc so a mistake doesn’t lead to your dog getting out of the house or yard on accident. Having your dog on a tether or baby gate can add an additional layer of security.

Safe Interactions 

Always monitor interactions between guests and dogs. If you feel something is “off”, the best thing is to remove your dog from the situation. This is especially with true around kids and new people that your dog has not met before.

When In Doubt, Play It Safe!

Last but not least, if you cannot ensure your dog’s safety around holiday food, it is best to just play it safe and separate them until everything is cleaned up.