Can Dogs Eat Turkey? A Dish-by-Dish Thanksgiving Food Guide for Dogs & Cats (2026 Canada)

Published October 2026 · ~7 min read

Thanksgiving Monday lands on October 12 this year, and at some point over the long weekend someone at your table will ask the big question while a pair of hopeful eyes watches every forkful: can the dog have some turkey? Good news, the answer is often yes. The trick is knowing which parts of the meal are fine, which ones cause most of the vet visits after the holiday, and how much “a little” really is. Here’s our team’s dish-by-dish guide.

Which Thanksgiving foods are safe for dogs and cats?

Plain is the rule. Most of the risk on a holiday table comes from what we add to food (butter, onion, garlic, salt, sugar, spices), not the base ingredient. Use this table as your cheat sheet:

Can dogs eat turkey?

Yes. Plain, fully cooked white meat with no skin, bones or seasoning is a safe holiday treat for most dogs. Pull a few pieces aside before the bird gets brined, buttered or rubbed with garlic, and cut them into small bites. The one exception: if your dog is on a prescription or elimination diet, skip the extras entirely and check with your vet, because even a small change can undo weeks of progress.

Can dogs eat turkey skin or bones?

No, and these two cause more post-holiday vet visits than anything else on the table. Cooked bones turn brittle and splinter, and the pieces can lodge in the throat, block the intestines or tear the gut lining on the way through. The carcass in the kitchen garbage is just as risky as a bone off a plate, so bag it and take it straight outside. Turkey skin and pan drippings are almost pure fat, and a sudden rich meal is one of the classic triggers of pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas. The American Veterinary Medical Association notes that sometimes even a small amount can cause it. Watch for vomiting, a hunched back, belly pain or a pet who won’t eat over the next few days.

Is stuffing safe for dogs or cats?

No. Stuffing is built on onion, garlic, leeks or chives, and every member of that family (the alliums) damages red blood cells in dogs and cats. Cats are even more sensitive than dogs. Cooking doesn’t make them safe, powdered forms count, and according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, signs of anemia (weakness, pale gums, fast breathing) often take 3–5 days to appear, so a pet can seem fine on Monday and unwell by Thursday. Many stuffing recipes also add raisins, sausage or butter. The same goes for gravy, which is usually onion-based and full of fat and salt.

Can dogs eat mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes?

Plain, yes. A spoonful of plain boiled potato or baked sweet potato is fine for most dogs. What turns them into a problem is everything we add: butter, cream, cheese, garlic, and for sweet potato casserole, brown sugar and marshmallows. If you want to share, set aside a plain scoop before it’s mashed and seasoned.

What about green beans, carrots, Brussels sprouts and corn?

Plain vegetables are some of the best things you can share. Steamed or raw green beans and carrots are low-calorie, crunchy and dog-approved; a Brussels sprout or two is fine, though it may make for a gassy evening. Skip green bean casserole (fried onions again) and anything glazed in butter or maple. Corn kernels are harmless, but never let your dog chew a corn cob: it doesn’t digest and is one of the most common causes of intestinal blockages vets remove by surgery.

Can dogs eat cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie?

A plain cranberry or two won’t hurt, but cranberry sauce is mostly sugar, and some homemade versions add raisins or currants, so leave it off the pet plate. Pumpkin pie is a no: sugar, fat and spices like nutmeg, and sugar-free or “keto” versions may contain xylitol, which is severely toxic to dogs even in small amounts. Plain canned pumpkin is the version worth sharing, and our pumpkin guide covers exactly how much to serve. A ready-made option like Fruitables Pumpkin Digestive Supplement is an easy way to give dogs and cats a festive spoonful. Watch the bread basket too: a baked roll is just empty calories, but raw yeast dough keeps rising in a warm stomach and produces alcohol as it ferments, and it can even mimic or trigger bloat, which makes it a true emergency.

What should cats avoid at Thanksgiving?

Cats are usually less interested in side dishes, which helps, but they’re more sensitive to onion and garlic than dogs, so gravy and stuffing are firm no’s. A few bites of plain turkey breast are a fine treat. The bigger cat hazard at Thanksgiving is often the centrepiece: true lilies and daylilies are extremely toxic to cats, and even a little pollen licked off their fur or a sip of vase water can cause kidney failure. If you’re bringing flowers to a home with cats, choose a lily-free bouquet.

How much turkey can I give my dog or cat?

Less than you think. Vets recommend keeping all treats and extras under 10% of a pet’s daily calories. Here’s roughly what that looks like in plain turkey breast (about 1.5 calories per gram):

*Typical for a spayed or neutered, moderately active adult. Seniors, couch potatoes and pets on a weight plan need less, so trim portions accordingly.

How do I keep my pet out of trouble during dinner?

Give them their own job. A frozen KONG Licks mat spread with wet food and a spoonful of pumpkin, or a stuffed KONG Rewards Wrapz, keeps a dog busy through the carving, and a long-lasting chew like a SuperCan jumbo bully stick covers the main course. Want a holiday-flavoured treat that’s actually made for dogs? Dog Bites freeze-dried turkey hearts are made in Canada from one ingredient (turkey hearts, nothing added), and Tilted Barn Beef & Cranberry Mini Wags bring the cranberry without the sauce, made with 100% Canadian ingredients. For lots of small rewards through a long day, Fruitables Skinny Minis are under 4 calories each, so they fit easily in the 10% budget. Cats can get in on it with Catit Creamy chicken and turkey lickable treats. A few more habits help:

• Brief your guests. Kids and well-meaning relatives are the usual source of “just one bite.” Ask everyone to send treats through you.
• Secure the garbage. Bones, skewers, string from the roast and foil from the pan belong in a lidded bin, taken outside before dessert.
• Give them a quiet room. Busy doors and new faces stress some pets. A bed, water and a chew in a closed room is a kindness, not a punishment. Pets who find big gatherings hard may do better with support from the calming collection, like an Adaptil diffuser plugged in a day or two ahead.
• Keep the normal routine. Regular walks and mealtimes mean a calmer pet and less begging at the table.

Hosting this year? Our Thanksgiving hosting guide has more ideas for including your pet in the day, including a sample pet-safe plate.

What should I do if my pet eats something they shouldn’t?

Call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic right away, even if your pet seems fine, and have the food and amount in mind. After hours, animal poison helplines that serve Canada, like the Pet Poison Helpline (1-855-764-7661) and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435), can advise you; both charge a consultation fee. Don’t try to make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to, because bones and some toxins do more damage coming back up. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, belly pain, a hunched posture, weakness or lethargy over the next few days, and if your dog’s stomach is upset but they’re otherwise bright, our guide to dog diarrhea covers when home care is reasonable and when it isn’t.

The bottom line

Share the plain stuff, skip the rich stuff, and keep portions small. A few bites of plain turkey breast, some green beans and a spoonful of pumpkin make a genuinely happy Thanksgiving for most dogs and cats, and keeping bones, stuffing, gravy and dessert out of reach keeps the long weekend out of the emergency clinic. From all of us at PetMax, happy Thanksgiving.

PetMax.ca is a family-owned, Canadian pet supply retailer based in Hamilton, Ontario. We’ve been helping pet owners since 1993, ship across Canada with free shipping on orders over $89* conditions apply, and offer free local delivery in Hamilton and Burlington on orders over $30. This article is general information, not veterinary advice. When in doubt about your pet’s health, contact your veterinarian.