What not to feed your pet this Thanksgiving?

pet care pet diet pet health thanksgiving

An annual national holiday marked by religious observances and a traditional meal, Thanksgiving is the holiday that commemorates a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1621. It is widely celebrated in the US on the fourth Thursday in November. A similar holiday is held in Canada, usually on the second Monday in October.

Some of the common food items to avoid feeding your pets this Thanksgiving are;


The Thanksgiving turkey is generally smothered with garlic, butter, or seasoning. These substances can prove to be toxic for pet’s health. If the meat is plain and well-cooked, the pets can enjoy it too. The fat content in poultry can cause pancreatitis, and the seasonings can upset the dog’s stomach.


Pork products are harmful to pets. They can lead to pancreatitis, vomiting, and diarrhea. Fatty meat is known to increase obesity in pets. Ham and other salty meats can prove to be dangerous. Ham is generally high in fat and salt content. Large dog breeds who consume salt may drink too much water and develop a life-threatening condition called "bloat."


The stuffing is quite popular during Thanksgiving dinner. Wild mushrooms, grapes, raisins, and especially onions can prove to be harmful to your pet’s delicate system. Most of the tasty stuffing are indigestible by dogs.

Sweet potatoes

Sweet potato and sweet seasoning can lead to an upset stomach in dogs. It’s better to avoid feeding sweet potatoes to your pets. If you wish to feet it to your dog, you can choose to serve it ungarnished.

Pumpkin pie

The traditional slice of Pumpkin can prove to be harmful to your pet. If you feed them canned pumpkin that is OK. Pumpkin contains high fiber and water, which are basically good for correcting and preventing constipation in dogs.

Salty snack foods

Salty snack food is harmful to both humans and pets. Items such as potato chips, pretzels, and popcorn contain a high amount of salt or sodium. The salty substances can lead to “excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning” in pets. Dogs who consume too much salt tend to drink more water, causing ‘bloating.’


Nuts are known to induce diarrhea, vomiting, and even pancreatitis in pets. The components in nuts are known to be indigestible by dogs.


Chocolates contain theobromine. This substance is known to be very harmful to pets. It can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and other ailments. Theobromine, formerly known as Xantheose, is a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant which is mostly found in chocolate and other food such as the leaves of the tea plant, and the kola nut.

Onions, Garlic, & Chive

Onions are known to be toxic to dogs, and garlic can be potentially toxic in large quantities. Make sure there are no bones in the meat you feed your dog. And avoid turkey stuffing including onions, garlic, and chive.

Yeast Dough

Yeast dough popularly found in white bread can rise and cause gas accumulation in the pet. This can be a painful experience. The yeast produces ethanol as a by-product and a dog ingesting raw bread dough can become drunk. 

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