Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips in Canton
Many of our pets seem to love Thanksgiving as much as we do! They get endless attention from all the guests, there are delicious smells wafting from the kitchen, and they can more easily beg for food from your innocent, unsuspecting guests. Yet, it’s important to be aware that the way we season and prepare our foods can make them dangerous to share with pets. With our Thanksgiving pet safety food guide, our animal hospital has gathered some of the most popular food items and listed whether they are safe to share, or should be kept to yourself!
Thanksgiving Food Your Dog and Cat Can Eat
Yes, all these foods can be enjoyed safely by your pet. However, make sure that the items are fully cooked (unless otherwise stated), unseasoned, and don’t present any choking hazards. Additionally, all meats should be free of gristle, skin, and bones.
- Beef – lean cuts only.
- Bread – both white and wheat are okay, but make sure it’s plain.
- Broccoli – cooked only.
- Brussels sprouts – cooked only, but pets are usually not interested!
- Carrots – cooked only for cats, but dogs can enjoy them raw, too.
- Celery – cooked, and only in small amounts.
- Cheese – most varieties are okay in small amounts but keep any with added spices out of reach.
- Chicken – lean, skinless, and boneless.
- Cinnamon – okay in very small amounts
- Corn – plain, well-cooked kernels are safe, but corn on the cob is a choking hazard!
- Cranberry sauce – only a little, since many recipes are high in sugar.
- Gravy – safe only if its ingredients do not contain any toxins like onions and garlic.
- Green beans – plain, both cooked and raw.
- Milk – in very small amounts, because it could cause issues with lactose intolerance.
- Mushrooms – store-bought varieties only; wild mushrooms can be very dangerous!
- Nutmeg – only safe for cats in very small amounts; nutmeg is unsafe for dogs!
- Pork – lean, boneless pieces only; ham and bacon should be avoided.
- Potatoes – cooked and unseasoned are safe, but raw potatoes are lethal to cats and toxic to dogs.
- Pumpkin – plain and cooked; no pumpkin pie filling!
- Rice – plain, cooked white or brown rice is safe.
- Sweet potatoes/candied yams – plain sweet potatoes and yams are safer, but pets can enjoy a little bit of the sweet stuff—just remember, no nutmeg for dogs!
- Turkey – lean, boneless, skinless pieces are safe.
Thanksgiving Food Your Dog and Cat Can't Eat
The foods in this list are highly toxic to cats and dogs in any amount. They will cause various symptoms ranging from excessive vomiting/diarrhea to increased heart rate and high blood pressure, pancreatitis, and more. If your pet eats any of these items, contact our 24/7 emergency veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661.
- Chocolate – Theobromine and caffeine are two stimulants in chocolate that cats and dogs cannot efficiently metabolize. Dark chocolate is even more poisonous!
- Garlic – Garlic is highly toxic to dogs and cats.
- Grapes/raisins- Both contain toxic compounds that are harmful to cats and dogs.
- Green bean casserole – This casserole is far too rich and contains other ingredients that are harmful to our pets.
- Ham – Ham has too much sodium to be safe for pets. The same goes for bacon!
- Nutmeg – As we mentioned above, nutmeg is toxic to dogs, due to the myristicin in it. For cats, it is acceptable in very small amounts.
- Onions – Onions (and onion powder!) are highly toxic to cats and dogs.
- Pecan pie – With the fatty, oily pecans and the sugary filling, this pie is way too rich for our pets.
- Pumpkin Pie – The condensed milk, sugars, and spices make this pie a no-no for pets.
- Stuffing – Stuffing very often contains ingredients that are dangerous to pets, such as onions, garlic, and/or shallots.
- Xylitol – Xylitol is an artificial sweetener found in many sugar-free baked goods, peanut butters, and candies.
Have questions about Thanksgiving pet safety? Contact our animal hospital at (734) 844-8844 or ask us at your next visit!
Dr. Petty and his Arbor Pointe staff are so very compassionate and extremely professional! I’ve taken my dogs and cats here for years. The clinic is pristinely clean! I very much appreciate their excellent communication and total up to date knowledge for the needs of my fur babies! Highly recommend!
Debbie C.
Jake was never a “normal” dog. Everything seemed to hurt or scare him. When my vet suggested I see Dr. Petty, I immediately made an appointment. Despite the hour trip, we have been seeing him ever since. Jake is a much happier boy. Now that Dr. Petty has cared for him, he is living his best life.
Beth W.
When the emergency veterinarian said my cat was going to die, I went to Dr. Petty. After a series of treatments, my cat lived 9 more years. Ever since, I have brought all my pets to Arbor Pointe. Dr. Petty is kind, compassionate, wicked smart, willing to think outside the box, and just a darn good veterinarian.
Kim T.