The 5 Thanksgiving Leftover Foods a Professional Dog Trainer Is Begging People to Stop Giving Their Pups

This holiday season, millions of Americans may unknowingly endanger their beloved pets by sharing festive leftovers. Though 1 in 3 can’t resist sharing food with their pets, this gesture can lead to serious harm — food poisoning is a top reason pets end up at the vet, with over 1,000 cases reported daily in the U.S.

"Thanksgiving is a time best shared with family, and our pets deserve to be part of the celebration — but no matter how much they beg, some foods just aren’t suitable for sharing with our fur babies," says Annie-Mae Levy, a professional dog trainer at Woofz, a puppy and dog training app. Levy shared the following leftovers you should never feed your dog at Thanksgiving.

1. Turkey Bones

While a slice of turkey makes for a protein-rich treat, bones are best kept off the menu. Cooked bones are typically flimsier and easier to swallow, but that also means they’re more likely to splinter when chewed, posing a choking hazard and potentially causing serious damage to your dog’s mouth, throat, and intestines. 

2. Stuffing

10 Thanksgiving Foods You Should Never, Ever Feed Your Pet

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10 Thanksgiving Foods You Should Never, Ever Feed Your Pet

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This really depends on the recipe, but you should avoid sharing stuffing with your furry friend unless you’re certain it isn’t going to harm them. Containing an assorted mix of herbs, spices, and vegetables, many widely used ingredients are likely to cause your pet harm – onion and garlic, for instance, both of which can damage red blood cells, leading to potentially fatal consequences. 

3. Casserole

Whether green bean or sweet potato, the casserole is a Thanksgiving staple laden with butter and heavy creams. While this holiday treat does us no harm every once in a while, it’s just too much lactose for dogs to digest – and do you really want to spend the holidays dealing with a bad stomach? The same goes for mashed potatoes. If dairy is a main ingredient, it’s best left off your puppy’s plate.

4. Cranberry Sauce

Cranberries are perfectly safe for dogs when consumed in moderation. It’s all the extra ingredients and hidden additives you have to watch out for. Packed full of sugar and sweeteners, it probably isn’t great for our health, let alone our pets. Plus, many recipes call for raisins and sultanas, which can cause kidney damage and even death. 

5. Desserts

When it comes to sharing sweet treats, you need to ignore the puppy dog eyes due to the high risk of containing ingredients that can damage your dog’s health. Chocolate is highly toxic and can trigger seizures, for instance. Likewise, many desserts contain xylitol – a sugar substitute that may taste good, but even a small dose can cause your dog’s sugar level to plummet, damage their liver, and can prove fatal without immediate treatment.

Thanks to our friends at WOOFZ for these helpful tips.