Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, good company, and delicious food. And while our four-legged friends are often right by our side (sometimes under the table waiting for scraps) this holiday feast can come with hidden risks for pets.
As pet-care professionals, you know how quickly a small snack from a well-meaning guest can turn into a stressful vet visit. To help keep tails wagging safely this season, here’s a friendly reminder of the Thanksgiving foods dogs should avoid.
Let’s keep pets healthy, happy, and far away from digestive troubles so pet parents can focus on enjoying the holiday (and you can avoid emergency calls!).
Turkey itself isn’t the villain, but the skin, fat, and bones are.
If pet parents want to share, recommend plain, unseasoned, boneless white meat only in very small amounts.
Stuffing almost always contains onions, garlic, chives, or leeks, which are all toxic to dogs. These ingredients can cause hemolytic anemia, damaging red blood cells.
Potatoes themselves are okay, but Thanksgiving mash is usually loaded with butter, milk, salt, gravy, and onion or garlic powder. These are all no-go ingredients for dogs.
High fat, high sodium, and often seasoned with garlic or onion. It’s delicious for us, but tough on a dog’s digestive system.
Ham, bacon, and rich roast trimmings are far too fatty for dogs and may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or pancreatitis
Unbaked bread dough can expand in a dog’s stomach and produce alcohol as it ferments, leading to bloat or alcohol poisoning.
This should go without saying, but even small amounts of alcohol can be dangerous for dogs. This includes drinks and uncooked dough.
Encourage pet parents to call their vet or the pet poison hotline if they notice:
Quick action makes all the difference. Remind pet parents to keep their veterinary information current with your business, particularly so you can follow up with their trusted vet following a visit or if you notice odd behavior or illness around the holidays.
When pet parents ask, here’s what vets say is safe in moderation:
These pet-safe sides and snacks let dogs join the holiday fun without the risks.
The holidays tend to bring an uptick in boarding, daycare, and grooming—along with more food-related questions from pet parents. With Gingr’s report cards and automated messaging, you can easily share safe-holiday tips, reminders, and updates with pet parents to help keep pets protected. It’s another way to build trust, strengthen relationships, and create customers for life—without adding extra busywork.
Thanksgiving is a time to gather, celebrate, and savor. With a little education and a lot of awareness, pet parents can include their dogs safely in the festivities.
If your team wants to streamline holiday communication, send clear reminders, and ensure every pet in your care stays safe and sound, Gingr is here to help. Together, we can make this season safer, simpler, and filled with more tail wags.