Arizona Vets Advise: Never Give These Dangerous Thanksgiving Foods to Your Dog

• Emergency Veterinarian visits increase around Thanksgiving
• If you make a plate for your pet, know which foods you should NEVER feed your dog
• American Kennel Club's advice on which foods are safe for your dog to eat

Our Pets Are Our Family

Thanksgiving is a family event. For many of us, that extends to our dogs. Sharing a special treat with our dogs is fun, but they can't eat everything we enjoy.

Do you know which popular Thanksgiving foods are safe to feed your dog and which should be left off Fido's plate?

Avoid Feeding Your Dog These Foods on Thanksgiving

Dr. Bone at Sierra Animal Hospital in Sierra Vista shares this advice. To keep your dog safe, you should never feed him or her any of the following foods:

• Turkey meat is okay, but avoid any turkey bones, skin, or gravy
• Ham
• Fat or fatty foods
• Onions, scallions, and garlic - or anything that could contain any of these ingredients, such as:
  • Stuffing
  • Casseroles
• Foods containing spices
• Mashed potatoes
• Creamed peas
• Chocolate, cookies, pies, and sweets
  • Anything “sugar-free” or containing xylitol. Xylitol can be fatal for dogs.
• Cranberry Sauce
• Alcoholic beverages
• Raisins and grapes
• Macadamia nuts
• Ham
• Yeast dough

How to Keep Your Dog Safe on Thanksgiving

The American Kennel Club says it's okay to replace one of your pet's meals with a Thanksgiving plate that has anything from the following list. Make sure these things are served without spices or added fats like butter:

• Plain sweet potatoes
• Regular potatoes (no added butter and not mashed)
• Apples slices, without the core or seeds (but not apple pie)
• Turkey Meat (no bones, skin, fat, or gravy)
• Plain green beans
• Plain peas
• Pumpkin puree (but not pumpkin pie)
• Celery
• Carrots
• Rice

A Veterinarian's Advice on Feeding Your Pet Over the Holidays

Dr. Bone says, "Remember, just like humans those calories can add up, so don't feed your dog too much, and be sure to replace a regular meal with this special treat."

Keep your dog safe this holiday season and keep the Pet Poison Helpline, along with your vet's information, posted somewhere in your home. Pet Poison Helpline 1-855-764-7661.