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The safest Thanksgiving for a pet is a boring one: the normal diet, no access to scraps or trash, a quiet place away from the crowd, and a poison-control number on hand. If you want to share turkey, the ASPCA says it should be boneless and fully cooked. This guide covers the food, the party and the emergency steps for dogs and cats.
Can my dog or cat eat Thanksgiving turkey?
The ASPCA’s default advice is to stick with your pet’s usual food. Its 2025 guidance (November 20, 2025) adds: “If you do give your pets a bite of turkey or other meat, be sure it’s boneless and fully cooked.” The same page suggests, as an optional festive extra, small portions of turkey, sweet potato and green beans mixed into the regular meal. The source gives no serving size, so keep any extras small. Ingredients, preparation, quantity, species and an individual animal’s health all matter, so no holiday food is safe for every pet.
Why bones and skin are a problem
- Bones: The ASPCA warns that poultry bones can be choking hazards. The FDA adds that discarded carcasses and bones can lodge in or injure the digestive tract.
- Skin and fatty scraps: The FDA warns that fatty scraps such as turkey skin can upset the digestive system and may cause pancreatitis.
Which holiday foods and ingredients are hazardous?
| Item | Concern | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Onion and garlic (in stuffing, gravy, sides) | Flagged as hazardous | ASPCA |
| Raw yeast dough | Flagged as hazardous | ASPCA |
| Chocolate | Flagged as hazardous | ASPCA |
| Xylitol (in some desserts and other products) | Hazardous; contact a veterinarian immediately if a dog ate a xylitol product | ASPCA; FDA |
| Alcohol | Identified as a hazard | FDA |
The FDA’s xylitol symptom information concerns dogs, so don’t assume the same sequence applies to cats. Check dessert labels, and remember that guests’ drinks left on low tables are within reach.
How do I secure scraps, trash and food bags?
- When the meal ends, follow the FDA’s advice: “Once your holiday meal is done, securely wrap up the table scraps and bones and dispose of them in a trash bin that your pets can’t get into.”
- Take the bag out of the kitchen or store the bin behind a closed door or in a latched cabinet.
- Close and put away snack and food bags. The FDA warns a thin bag can tighten around a dog’s head and suffocate it. Discard empty bags in inaccessible trash.
- Don’t leave carcasses or platters unattended on counters or tables.
How do I protect pets from the gathering itself?
Give them a quiet retreat
Both the ASPCA and the FDA recommend a quiet place away from the bustle. Set up a room with water, bedding and familiar items before guests arrive. A pet puzzle toy or treat-dispensing feeder holding some of their regular treats can keep them occupied during the meal, as the ASPCA suggests. It’s optional, and the right toy depends on your animal.
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Keep guests’ belongings out of reach
- Medication: Ask visitors to keep pills in closed bags or in a room pets can’t enter.
- Plants and decorations: Keep these out of reach. Ribbons and string-like decorations may cause serious intestinal damage if swallowed.
What should I do if my pet eats something dangerous?
Call a veterinarian or a pet poison-control center promptly. Don’t try home treatment. The AVMA brochure on poisoning puts it plainly: “Don’t wait! Time is critical for successfully treating poisoning.”
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: 888-426-4435
- Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661
Both numbers are listed by the FDA. Be ready with your pet’s breed, age, weight and symptoms. The AVMA also advises keeping the product packaging, or a sample of the plant, to show what was eaten. Save your regular vet’s number and the nearest emergency clinic’s hours before the holiday, since offices may be closed.
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