Nothing says Thanksgiving tradition like a full plate of tasty treats—enjoyed with beloved friends and family, of course.
However, not all of our favorite human eats are safe for pets. Here’s what you need to know:
Keep these foods away from pets
Turkey bones — Bones from turkeys and chickens are prone to shattering when chewed. Ingested bones can cause serious and potentially deadly lacerations in a pet’s digestive tract.
Bread dough — Never give your pet raw dough with yeast! A pet’s stomach acts like a proofing chamber for active dough, which can result in bowel obstruction, a bloated or distended stomach and painful gas.
Mashed potatoes — A staple of the Thanksgiving table, mashed potatoes are commonly made with massive amounts of cream or butter—too much for pets to ingest safely.
Unsafe ingredients — Commonly added to festive holiday desserts, both grapes and raisins are highly toxic for dogs. Onions, scallions and garlic are also very dangerous when ingested by pets.
Pet-safe Thanksgiving foods
Turkey — What Thanksgiving meal is complete without it? When giving a little taste of turkey to your pet, remember to choose lean, white meat pieces that are skinless and unseasoned. Also, be sure to limit the amount of meat your pooch or kitty consumes.
Pumpkin — This tasty seasonal gourd is a delightful bite for both dogs and cats. Pets can enjoy freshly cooked pumpkin or the canned variety—just make sure it’s pumpkin puree, not pre-made pumpkin pie filling (which comes loaded with unhealthy fats, sugar and spices).
Sweet potato — High in vitamins and fiber, sweet potato is a popular pet-safe treat with a holiday feel. Be sure to remember to hold on the butter and salt!
Green beans — Another tabletop favorite that is vitamin rich and satisfyingly crunchy. Green beans can be steamed and should be offered to pets plain without any added ingredients like butter or spices. Never give pets green bean casserole—fried onions are toxic to pets.
With a little preparation and planning, you can make Thanksgiving festive (and safe) for your pets as well. That’s something to be thankful for.
Add-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new pet