{"id":1177059,"date":"2025-11-26T12:07:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T20:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/?post_type=living&p=1177059"},"modified":"2025-11-26T12:07:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T20:07:43","slug":"thanksgiving-foods-dangerous-dogs-cats","status":"publish","type":"living","link":"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/lifestyle\/animal-companions\/thanksgiving-foods-dangerous-dogs-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"13 Thanksgiving \u2018Foods\u2019 That Can Be Deadly to Dogs and Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It\u2019s only natural to want to include our furry family members in our Thanksgiving celebration by sharing a few bites of dinner. However, your dog or cat will be thankful <\/em>if you leave these 13 Thanksgiving \u201cfoods\u201d off the menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Thanksgiving \u2018Foods\u2019 Are Dangerous to Dogs and Cats?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Garlic, onions, and chives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This group of ingredients is commonly found in mashed potatoes, stuffing, and many other Thanksgiving dishes. No matter if the garlic, onion, or chives are fresh, cooked, powdered, or any other form, they can lead to damaged blood cells and anemia for animal companions\u2014don\u2019t risk it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey bones<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who\u2019s met a turkey knows they\u2019re someone, not something<\/a>. But if your Thanksgiving host still chooses not to opt for a delicious vegan roast<\/a>, be vigilant that no one sneaks any bones from turkeys<\/a> to furry family members. Cooked bones can perforate their intestines, sometimes even requiring surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When given a good life at a sanctuary, turkeys often follow humans around like puppies looking for treats and affection. Turkeys are caring parents and spirited explorers who can live up to 10 years, but in the meat industry, millions of turkeys are still babies when workers kill them for Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pumpkin pie (and anything else containing nutmeg)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In significant amounts, nutmeg can be toxic, causing hallucinations, stomach pain, and possibly even seizures. Other spices can be dangerous, too, so it\u2019s best not to feed dogs treats from your Thanksgiving\u00a0dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alcohol<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alcohol has the same effect on dogs\u2019 livers and brains as on humans\u2019, but it doesn\u2019t take as much to cause serious damage to them. Alcohol can even lead to respiratory distress, tremors, coma, and death. Sorry\u2014no rum cake for Fido!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caffeine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As soon as a dessert or other Thanksgiving\u00a0dish calls for coffee, tea, or chocolate as an ingredient, it is off limits to animal companions. Because these ingredients all contain caffeine, anything that contains them could be fatal to canines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Candy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the sugar in candy isn\u2019t great for dogs, the sweetener xylitol, which is often used nowadays, can actually lead to liver failure, so keep sweets of all kinds away from your pup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chocolate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to caffeine, chocolate contains theobromine, which can be extremely poisonous when ingested by dogs and may even result in seizures and death, so be sure not to leave any chocolates<\/a> within Fido\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cow\u2019s milk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dairy, including milk, whipped cream, cheese, and butter, is bad for humans<\/a>, dogs, and cats. They can cause diarrhea and other digestive disturbances as well as allergic reactions in animal companions. Plus, the dairy industry exploits cows. It\u2019s better for everyone if you leave dairy out of your dog\u2019s bowl and off your plate this Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cows<\/a> produce milk for the same reason that humans do: to nourish their young. To keep them producing milk, dairy industry workers forcibly manually inseminate female cows every year. Once their babies are born, workers tear the calves away from their mothers within a day of birth, which causes them both extreme distress. Mother cows can be heard calling for their calves for days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eggnog<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loaded with fat, sugar, cow\u2019s milk, raw eggs<\/a>, and alcohol, this beverage is a quintuple of danger to your animal companion\u2019s health\u2014and yours. Although you still shouldn\u2019t share it with your dog or cat, vegan eggnogs<\/a> are better for you, cows, and chickens than the old-fashioned recipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pig flesh<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If anybody in your household tries to sneak a scrap of ham or bacon to your dog or cat, stop them in their tracks. Dishes that contain pork can cause pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening disease, in animal companions.
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Pigs are intelligent, inquisitive, and enjoy playing games. Today\u2019s farming industry<\/a> forces pigs to spend their lives in cramped, filthy enclosures before being killed. Help a pig and keep your dog safe from pork-caused illness: Opt for a vegan ham<\/a> this Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nuts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These have a very high fat content and may contain other toxins that can result in stomach upset or other serious health complications. Macadamia nuts, in particular, when fed to your furry family member even in small amounts, can be toxic and result in vomiting, tremors, paralysis, rapid heartbeat, and other complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raisins and grapes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consuming these fruits, even in small quantities, may cause rapid kidney failure in some dogs, and fruitcakes are one holiday offering likely to contain them. If you were thinking that you could unload an unwanted fruitcake on your pup, think again. Maybe \u201cregift\u201d it to an unwitting human friend or relative instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salt<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salt\u00a0abounds in many holiday\u00a0dishes, and when consumed by dogs and cats, it can cause excessive thirst and urination, and is especially detrimental to animals with underlying kidney or cardiovascular conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Thanksgiving Foods Are Safe for Dogs?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since holiday recipes can vary widely, it\u2019s best not to feed dogs any prepared dishes, and take extra care to steer clear of these particular\u00a0ingredients and holiday\u00a0foods\u00a0that are bad for dogs. If you really <\/em>want to share something with your furry family members, there are a few things that are generally safe for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 Thanksgiving Foods You Can Share With Your Dogs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n