10 Thanksgiving foods you should NOT feed your dog
The good food and good company that come along with Thanksgiving are nearly upon us, and the four-legged members of your family are looking forward to it, too. But some of the holiday treats you look forward to eating on Turkey Day can be awful for your dog—and in some cases, they’re dangerous.
Here are 10 foods you shouldn’t share with your dog on Thanksgiving—or any other day, for that matter—according to the Prince William County, Va. Animal Shelter:
1. BONES
It might seem counterintuitive, but bones are bad for your dog. Carmela Stamper, DVM, of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine says giving your dog a bone, no matter what the size, can mean a trip to the vet, and even possible surgery or death. She recommends making sure you throw out bones from your own meals so your dog can’t get to them.
2. RAW OR UNCOOKED TURKEY
This is an obvious one. The threat of salmonella in uncooked turkey is terrible for your dog’s stomach (and yours, of course).
3. TURKEY SKIN
You may love the turkey skin and gravy—but fatty foods like those are tough for your dog to digest. In fact, your dog’s pancreas can become inflamed, resulting in pancreatitis.
4. DOUGH OR CAKE BATTER
Raw dough plus your dog’s body heat can actually make the dough rise in its stomach. That can cause your dog to vomit, while at the same time suffering abdominal pain and bloating. Plus, the batter you use for those cakes and cookies contains raw eggs, which could contain salmonella bacteria. Make sure to clean up any scraps or droppings that hit the floor right away.
5. BEER
Keep the cold ones to yourself. Some dogs might love beer, but it can really mess with their stomach. And if the dog has too much, it can cause a fever, rapid heartbeat, seizures, liver damage, or even death.
6. MACADAMIA NUTS
They’re very bad for dogs, and can cause a reaction called macadamia nut toxicosis. Symptoms can range from lethargy to vomiting to your dog being unable to stand up.
7. MUSHROOMS
Fungi are good for you, but very bad for your dog. If your dog eats mushrooms, the dog may experience vomiting, seizures, or even coma and possibly death.
8. ONIONS AND GARLIC
Your dog can get very sick from eating onions or garlic, because they contain sulfides—which are toxic to dogs and can cause destruction of red blood cells, leading to anemia.
9. SAGE
It’s in countless Thanksgiving Day recipes, but it shouldn’t be in your dog’s bowl. Sage contains oils and resins that can upset your four-legged friend’s stomach and do a number on its central nervous system.
10. NUTMEG
Pumpkin and sweet potatoes are good for your dog—but make sure they don’t contain nutmeg. It has mild hallucinogenic properties that, when ingested by your dog, can cause seizures, tremors and central nervous system problems.
BONUS NO-NO: CHOCOLATE.
Most dog owners know this golden rule. Never, ever feed your dog chocolate. It’s toxic for them.
Make sure to have plenty of dog food and treats available to offer your dog as an alternative to the things they shouldn’t be eating. And if you’re hosting dinner, tell your guests not to feed your dog any table food (because they might not know otherwise). And when you go out for that post-turkey feast walk, take your dog with you!