Thanksgiving Foods That Are Dangerous for Dogs (and What's Safe)

A small piece of plain, boneless, skinless turkey is generally fine for most dogs. The problems are the bones, skin, gravy, stuffing and anything cooked with onions, garlic, grapes or raisins (AVMA, FDA). Here's the quick list for the Thanksgiving table.

Thanksgiving foods: safe or not

Food	Verdict	Why
Plain turkey meat, boneless and skinless	OK in small amounts	AVMA says a small amount of plain, well-cooked turkey is generally OK.
Turkey bones (cooked)	No	They can splinter, choke a dog, or block or tear the gut (FDA, AKC).
Turkey skin, drippings, gravy	No	Fatty foods can cause pancreatitis (FDA).
Stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes made with onion or garlic	No	Onions and garlic can damage red blood cells and cause anemia (AAHA).
Grapes, raisins, currants (salads, desserts, stuffing)	No	Can cause kidney failure (AAHA).
Raw yeast dough	No	It can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol (AAHA, ASPCA).
Desserts with chocolate or xylitol	No	Chocolate contains theobromine; darker chocolate is worse. Xylitol, sometimes called birch sugar, is dangerous to dogs (FDA).
Macadamia nuts	No	Can cause weakness, vomiting, tremors and overheating (AAHA).
Alcohol	No	Keep drinks out of reach (AVMA).
Bouillon, broth-heavy dishes	Avoid	High in sodium (ASPCA).

Watch for these signs

The FDA lists vomiting, stomach pain, restlessness, shaking, diarrhea, fever and weakness as signs of pancreatitis. Signs of a blockage from a bone can show up hours or even days later (FDA). If your dog got into something, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). Our step-by-step: my dog ate something. What now?

Make the day easier

Keep the dog out of the kitchen while you cook, or give it a safe room with a chew toy.
Tell guests not to share food, and say why. Kids especially.
Put the carcass, bones and string in a closed bin outside, or a trash can the dog can't open (AVMA, ASPCA).
Want to include your dog? Give a few bites of plain turkey or a dog treat in its own bowl.
Guests coming and going mean open doors. See how to keep your dog from slipping out during the holidays.

More detail: onions, garlic, nuts and fatty foods · grapes, raisins and xylitol · chocolate and caffeine.

Sources (checked Oct 30, 2026): FDA: Keep your dogs and cats safe from holiday hazards, AVMA: Thanksgiving pet safety, AAHA: Thanksgiving foods pets should avoid, ASPCA: Thanksgiving safety tips, AKC: can dogs eat turkey?. This page is general information, not veterinary advice.

Info may be outdated. Verify with the source.

Disclosure: some links may be affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.