Turkey Day is almost here when we will gather with family and friends, wearing our roomiest pants before indulging in a hearty meal. Considering this holiday revolves around food, pets typically find ample opportunities to share in the festivities and will likely also overindulge. Although some common holiday foods are harmless to pets, others are toxic and can cause serious illnesses in dogs and cats. The All Breed Pet Care team wants to ensure pet owners avoid a trip to the veterinary emergency hospital this year—here is our guide to harmful Thanksgiving foods and how they can affect your furry pal.

#1: Baked goods and your pet

Many baked goods contain multiple toxic ingredients, including:

  • Chocolate — Chocolate contains toxic compounds called methylxanthines (i.e., theobromine and caffeine) that overstimulate a pet’s nervous system. Signs include vomiting, trembling, hyperactivity, seizures, rapid heart rate, coma, or death. Toxicity severity depends on the concentration or “darkness” of the chocolate and how much your pet consumes in relation to their weight.
  • Xylitol — Xylitol, which is included in many sugar-free desserts, tricks canine bodies into producing excess insulin, which causes their blood sugar to drop dangerously low. Hypoglycemia signs include a drunken appearance (i.e., ataxia), vomiting, and depression. Xylitol can also lead to liver failure.
  • Raisins — Raisins and grapes can cause renal failure a few days after ingestion in susceptible dogs. Signs include increased thirst and urination, vomiting, and lethargy.
  • Macadamia nuts — Macadamia nuts contain an unknown compound that causes vomiting, diarrhea, and rear limb weakness in dogs. This issue is usually self-limiting but can be alarming for pet owners.

#2: Allium family foods and your pet

The Allium plant family includes garlic, onions, leeks, and other related food flavorings. When pets consume large amounts or concentrated forms (e.g., powdered spices), their red blood cells can be damaged. Because damaged red cells cannot carry oxygen to tissues efficiently, their presence can set off an immune system response (i.e., hemolytic anemia) that destroys the damaged cells. Pale gums and lethargy are common signs, but they may not appear for several days after ingestion. Treatments are supportive and may include blood transfusions, as needed.

#3: Turkey skin and your pet

You may have heard the myth that turkey skin is good for pets, but this could not be further from the truth. Turkey skin and other high-fat meat cuts, gravy, butter, and similar foods can shock the pancreas, which is responsible for fat digestion, and lead to pancreatitis. Affected pets develop vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and lethargy, and typically require hospitalization to recover. In severe cases, pancreatitis can cause a toxic systemic response and lead to widespread organ failure or death.

#4: Cooked meat bones and your pet

Dogs like to chew on bones, so bones from the turkey or ham should be fine, right? Unfortunately, cooked bones are not like the large bones you buy at the pet store, which can be harmful in their own way—such as breaking your dog’s teeth—but their processing method prevents them from cracking or breaking easily. Cooked bones are weakened and can splinter easily, and your pet can swallow large pieces that get stuck in or perforate their intestinal tract, necessitating emergency surgery.

#5: Concentrated salt and your pet

Salt poisoning (i.e., hypernatremia) occurs when pets eat or drink concentrated salt sources, including bouillon cubes or the leftover liquid from brining a turkey. This raises the salt concentration in their blood, causing excessive thirst, vomiting, and neurological problems from brain swelling. Immediate treatment is required to reduce the pet’s sodium levels and to ensure the pet does not suffer permanent brain damage or death.

Strategies to prevent a pet food-related disaster

Pets also can come across harmful Thanksgiving foods by begging from unsuspecting guests, stealing from children, eating food that falls from the table, counter-surfing, or garbage picking. You can prevent most of these behaviors by limiting your pet’s access to the kitchen and dining areas and securing food-containing trash immediately after the meal. Resist the urge to share the meal with your furry pal and instead offer them their normal treats for waiting patiently. If your pet does consume a toxic food, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or Pet Poison Helpline. Then, reach out to our team, or head to your nearest veterinary emergency facility for care. 

“Sharing is caring” does not apply to your pet. Pets metabolize foods differently from people and can suffer from toxicities, gastrointestinal upsets, pancreatitis, or foreign body obstructions from eating inappropriate foods. For additional information about toxic foods or holiday safety pointers, or to schedule your pet’s pre-holiday checkup, contact our All Breed Pet Care team.