Wondering what Thanksgiving food your dog or cat can eat? Here’s the complete scrap list, sorted into what’s safe, what depends on the recipe, and what should never leave the table, plus how to include your pet in the feast without a trip to the emergency vet.

Every Thanksgiving table has a seat that isn’t on the seating chart.

It’s under the table. It has four legs. And it has perfected a look that suggests it has not been fed in at least a week (breakfast was 40 minutes ago).

Then comes the question every pet parent asks somewhere between the turkey and the pie: what Thanksgiving food can dogs eat? (And should the cat get a bite too?)

The honest answer is “some of it.” A few Thanksgiving staples make perfectly good pet treats when served plain. Others depend entirely on how they were cooked. And a handful are genuinely dangerous, even in small amounts.

The trouble is that most Thanksgiving food isn’t served plain. It’s buttered, salted, seasoned, sauced, and stuffed. So the same ingredient can land on different lists depending on what happened to it in the kitchen.

Here’s how to sort it out.

The Thanksgiving Scrap List at a Glance

Food	Verdict	The Fine Print
Plain, boneless, skinless turkey (white meat)	Safe	Fully cooked, unseasoned, small portions
Plain sweet potato	Safe	Cooked, no butter, sugar, or marshmallows
Plain green beans	Safe	Not the casserole
Plain pumpkin	Safe	100% pumpkin, not pie filling
Plain carrots	Safe	Cooked or raw, cut into small pieces
Apple slices	Safe	No core, no seeds
Corn kernels (off the cob)	Safe	Plain only; the cob is a Never
Dark meat turkey	Iffy	Fattier; skip if your pet has a sensitive stomach
Mashed potatoes	Iffy	Usually loaded with butter, cream, salt, or garlic
Cranberry sauce	Iffy	High in sugar; check the recipe for other ingredients
Plain baked dinner roll	Iffy	Not toxic, but empty calories
Cheese and dairy	Iffy	Many cats and some dogs don’t tolerate lactose well
Turkey bones	Never	Choking and digestive-tract injury risk
Turkey skin, fat, and drippings	Never	High fat; linked to pancreatitis
Gravy	Never	Fat, salt, and often onion or garlic
Stuffing / dressing	Never	Usually contains onions, garlic, or raisins
Onions, garlic, leeks, chives	Never	Toxic to dogs and cats, especially cats
Grapes, raisins, currants	Never	Can cause kidney damage in dogs
Chocolate	Never	Toxic to dogs and cats
Sugar-free desserts (xylitol)	Never	Can be deadly to dogs
Raw bread or roll dough	Never	Expands in the stomach; produces alcohol
Pumpkin pie and spiced desserts	Never	Sugar, spices, and possible xylitol
Ham	Never	Very salty and fatty
Alcohol	Never	Dangerous even in small amounts
Corn cobs	Never	A common cause of intestinal blockage

The Safe List: Plain Is the Magic Word

These foods are generally fine for most healthy dogs, and some for cats, as long as they’re served plain, cooked, and in small amounts. If it’s been buttered, salted, or seasoned, it moves down a list.

Plain Turkey Breast

Can dogs eat turkey? Yes, if it’s fully cooked, boneless, skinless, and unseasoned. Lean white meat is a good source of protein, which is why turkey shows up in so many pet foods. The ASPCA and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) both say a small amount of plain, boneless turkey is generally fine. Wellness Here’s more on why turkey is so good for your pets.

Plain Sweet Potato

Cooked, mashed, or cubed with nothing added, sweet potato offers fiber and vitamins. Just scoop some out before the brown sugar and marshmallows show up. Want to turn the leftovers into something special? Try these homemade sweet potato dog treats.

Plain Green Beans

Steamed or boiled green beans are a crunchy, low-calorie snack many dogs love. The green bean casserole, with its creamy soup and fried onions, belongs on the Never list.

Plain Pumpkin

Plain cooked or canned 100% pumpkin is a classic pet-friendly ingredient. Make sure the can says “pumpkin,” not “pumpkin pie filling,” which contains sugar and spices. Wellness has a festive pumpkin pupcake recipe if you want to bake something your dog can actually eat.

Carrots, Apple Slices, and Corn Kernels

Plain carrots and apple slices (without the core or seeds) make easy, crunchy rewards. Plain corn kernels are fine for dogs, but the cob is a serious choking and blockage risk.

The Iffy List: It Depends on the Recipe

These foods aren’t toxic on their own. The problem is what usually gets added to them. If you can’t be sure exactly what’s in a dish, it’s easier to skip it.

Dark Meat Turkey

Can dogs eat dark meat turkey? Dark meat is fattier than white meat. A small taste is unlikely to cause problems for most healthy dogs, but it’s a poor choice for pets with sensitive stomachs or a history of pancreatitis. Stick to white meat when in doubt.

Mashed Potatoes

Can dogs have mashed potatoes? Plain cooked potato is fine. Holiday mashed potatoes are usually made with butter, cream, salt, and sometimes garlic or chives. If you want to share, set aside a spoonful before anything is added.

Cranberry Sauce

Plain cranberries in small amounts are generally fine, but most cranberry sauce is very high in sugar. Recipes vary, too, so check the ingredients before sharing. When in doubt, keep the cranberry sauce on the human side of the table.

Dinner Rolls

A small piece of a plain, fully baked roll isn’t harmful for most dogs. It’s simply empty calories. Raw dough, on the other hand, is a firm Never (more on that below).

Cheese and Dairy

Many adult cats and some dogs have trouble digesting lactose, which can lead to an upset stomach. Rich cheese plates are also high in fat and salt. A tiny cube is a treat for some pets; skip it for others.

The Never List: Keep These Off the Plate

These are the foods to watch most closely. Some are toxic. Others are physically dangerous. All of them are common on the Thanksgiving table.

Turkey Bones

Can dogs have turkey bones? No. Cooked poultry bones can splinter and cause choking, mouth injuries, or damage and blockages in the digestive tract. That includes the drumstick, the wishbone, and the carcass in the trash.

Turkey Skin, Fat, Drippings, and Gravy

Wondering can dogs eat turkey skin or can dogs have turkey gravy? Neither belongs in the pet bowl.

Turkey skin and gravy aren’t toxic, but they’re very high in fat. Rich, fatty foods like skin, gravy, and drippings are hard for pets to digest and can trigger pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas. Gravy also tends to be salty and often contains onion or garlic.

Stuffing and Dressing

Stuffing typically includes onions, garlic, leeks, or shallots, and sometimes raisins. It’s also often cooked inside the bird with fat and drippings. Keep it off the pet plate entirely.

Onions, Garlic, Leeks, and Chives

These members of the allium family can damage red blood cells in dogs and cats. Cats are especially sensitive. They’re hidden in many dishes, including stuffing, gravy, casseroles, and seasoned meats, which is a big reason “plain” matters so much.

Grapes, Raisins, and Currants

Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs, and there’s no known “safe” amount. Watch for them in stuffing, salads, breads, and desserts.

Chocolate and Sugar-Free Desserts

Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, and darker chocolate is more dangerous. Many sugar-free baked goods contain xylitol, a sweetener that can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, liver damage, and death in dogs. Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and other desserts also bring sugar, spices, and rich fats. Dessert stays with the humans.

Raw Bread Dough

Uncooked yeast dough can keep rising in a warm stomach, causing painful bloating. As the yeast ferments, it also produces alcohol, which can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Keep rising dough well out of reach.

Ham, Alcohol, Nuts, and Corn Cobs

Ham is very high in salt and fat. Alcohol is dangerous for pets in even small amounts, so watch unattended glasses. Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs, and other nuts are high in fat. And corn cobs are a common cause of intestinal blockage.

What About Cats? Thanksgiving Foods for Cats

Can cats eat turkey? Yes, in small amounts. A few bites of plain, fully cooked, boneless, skinless turkey breast are a safe treat for most cats. As obligate carnivores, cats usually aren’t interested in the sweet potatoes anyway.

A few cat-specific cautions:

• Onions and garlic: Cats are particularly sensitive to these, so seasoned meats, gravy, and stuffing are all off-limits.
• Dairy: Despite the cartoon image of a cat with a saucer of milk, many adult cats are lactose intolerant.
• Holiday flowers: Certain lilies are extremely toxic to cats. Even a small amount of pollen, plant material, or water from the vase can be dangerous. Check out our list of pet-safe indoor plants before decorating.
• Counter surfing: Cats can reach places dogs can’t. Cover dishes and don’t leave the turkey resting unattended on the counter.

If you’re looking for Thanksgiving foods for cats that deliver the flavor without the table risks, turkey-based recipes like Wellness CORE Turkey & Chicken Liver Pâté offer turkey in a complete and balanced meal.

How Much Is a “Small Amount”?

Even Safe-list foods can cause an upset stomach if your pet eats too much of something new.

A widely used guideline is that treats and extras should make up no more than 10% of your pet’s daily calories. For a cat or small dog, that might be just a few fingertip-sized bites. For a large dog, it might be a small handful. The right amount depends on your pet’s size, calorie needs, health, and regular diet.

A few simple rules help:

• Offer extras on top of your pet’s regular meal, not instead of it.
• Introduce only one or two new foods at a time.
• Skip extras entirely for pets with a sensitive stomach, food allergies, diabetes, kidney disease, or a history of pancreatitis, unless your veterinarian says otherwise.

For more everyday options, Wellness has a guide to which human foods dogs can safely eat.

Your Thanksgiving Day Game Plan

Most holiday food emergencies don’t happen because someone deliberately shared something toxic. They happen because the kitchen is busy and nobody’s watching.

1. Make the Pet Plate First: Set aside plain portions before the butter, salt, and seasoning go in. Then you know exactly what’s on it.
2. Brief the Guests: Kindly let everyone know the rules: no feeding from the table, no slipping scraps under it. Kids especially love to share. A small bowl of approved treats gives guests a safe way to join in.
3. Secure the Trash: A turkey carcass in an open trash can is irresistible. Seal bones and scraps in a tightly secured bag inside a closed container, outdoors or behind a closed door.
4. Watch the Counters and the Coffee Table: Unattended plates, appetizer trays, and drinks are easy targets.
5. Give Your Pet a Quiet Space: A calm room with their bed, water, and a favorite toy keeps them comfortable and away from the food action. A puzzle toy stuffed with a few Safe-list treats keeps them busy. Wellness has more ideas for keeping your home pet-friendly during the holidays.

Uh-Oh: What to Do If Your Pet Eats Something on the Never List

Don’t wait to see what happens. Some toxins, like xylitol and grapes, can cause serious harm before symptoms appear.

Step	What to Do
1. Remove the food	Safely take away any remaining food and note what was eaten and roughly how much.
2. Call for help right away	Contact your veterinarian, an emergency vet clinic, or a pet poison hotline.
3. Don’t induce vomiting on your own	Only do this if a veterinary professional tells you to.
4. Bring the packaging or recipe	Ingredient details help the vet decide on treatment.

Pet poison resources (fees may apply):

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435
• Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661

Also watch for signs of trouble in the hours and days after the holiday: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, a painful or bloated belly, or a hunched posture. Contact your veterinarian if you notice any of them.

A Final Word From the Kids’ Table

Pets don’t actually need Thanksgiving dinner.

They need what they need every other day—their regular food, fresh water, and you.

That said, there’s something nice about including them. A few bites of plain turkey. A spoonful of sweet potato. A seat (well, a spot on the rug) at the celebration.

So this year, enjoy the feast. Share the plain stuff. Guard the gravy.

And when that familiar face appears under the table, you’ll know exactly what’s safe to share.

Thanksgiving Scrap FAQ

What Thanksgiving foods can dogs eat?

Dogs can generally eat small amounts of plain, cooked, unseasoned Thanksgiving foods, including boneless, skinless turkey breast, sweet potato, green beans, pumpkin, carrots, apple slices without seeds, and corn kernels off the cob. Avoid anything cooked with butter, salt, onions, garlic, or sugar.

What Thanksgiving foods are bad for dogs?

The riskiest Thanksgiving foods dogs can’t eat include turkey bones, turkey skin and fat, gravy, stuffing, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins, chocolate, desserts with xylitol, raw bread dough, ham, alcohol, macadamia nuts, and corn cobs.

Can dogs eat turkey?

Yes. Small amounts of fully cooked, boneless, skinless, unseasoned turkey breast are generally safe for dogs. Avoid the skin, bones, and anything seasoned with onions or garlic.

Can cats eat turkey?

Yes. A few bites of plain, fully cooked, boneless, skinless turkey breast make a safe treat for most cats. Skip seasoned meat, gravy, and stuffing, since cats are especially sensitive to onions and garlic.

Can dogs eat turkey skin or turkey bones?

No. Turkey skin is very high in fat and can contribute to pancreatitis. Cooked turkey bones can splinter, causing choking or injury and blockages in the digestive tract.

Can dogs have mashed potatoes?

Plain cooked potatoes are fine in small amounts, but most holiday mashed potatoes contain butter, cream, salt, and sometimes garlic or chives. Set aside a plain spoonful before adding anything if you want to share.

Can dogs eat stuffing?

No. Stuffing usually contains onions, garlic, leeks, or raisins, all of which can be harmful to dogs. It’s also often cooked in fatty drippings.

Can dogs have gravy?

It’s best to skip it. Gravy is high in fat and salt and frequently contains onion or garlic. Rich, fatty foods like gravy can trigger pancreatitis.

Can dogs eat pumpkin pie?

No. Pumpkin pie contains sugar, rich fats, and spices, and some versions may contain ingredients that are unsafe for pets. Plain 100% canned or cooked pumpkin is a safer way to share the flavor.

What should I do if my dog ate something toxic on Thanksgiving?

Contact your veterinarian, an emergency clinic, or a pet poison hotline right away, even if your dog seems fine. Note what was eaten and how much, and don’t induce vomiting unless a veterinary professional tells you to.