Quick answer
Dogs can share a small Thanksgiving meal of plain, boneless, skinless turkey breast with a spoonful of plain green beans, sweet potato or pumpkin. Keep them away from turkey skin, gravy, cooked bones, stuffing with onion or garlic, grapes, raw dough and desserts. Keep extras under 10% of your dog's daily calories.
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday 26 November this year, and you already know the scene: the turkey resting on the counter, a nose appearing at the edge of the table, a cousin slipping a piece of skin under the cloth. Most dogs come through the day fine. The ones who end up at an emergency clinic usually got the skin, the bones or the stuffing.
This guide gives you a dog-safe plate, a calorie "treat budget" by weight in US units, and the signs that mean the leftovers did harm. If your dog's stomach is sensitive at the best of times, the holiday season is when steady everyday digestive support, such as our GoodGut+ drops, earns its place. It is not a fix for a dog who is already vomiting.
What can dogs eat at Thanksgiving?
Dogs can eat plain, fully cooked turkey breast with no skin, bones or seasoning, and small amounts of plain vegetables such as green beans, sweet potato and pumpkin. The ASPCA advises that any turkey you share be boneless and fully cooked, since raw or undercooked turkey can carry salmonella and poultry bones are a choking hazard (ASPCA). The problem with most Thanksgiving dishes is not the turkey but what goes with it: butter, skin, gravy, onion and garlic.
| On the table | For your dog? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Plain roast turkey breast, no skin, no bones | Yes, a small portion | Lean protein. Must be boneless and fully cooked (ASPCA). |
| Plain green beans, plain sweet potato or plain pumpkin | Yes, a spoonful | Low in fat when nothing is added. |
| Turkey skin, drippings, gravy, buttery mash | No | Rich, fatty food can trigger pancreatitis (FDA). Bouillon in gravy is very salty (ASPCA). |
| Stuffing, green bean casserole, creamed onions | Never | Onion and garlic damage red blood cells, and cooking does not make them safe (Merck). |
| Cooked turkey bones or the carcass | Never | Can lodge in the oesophagus, stomach or windpipe, or cut the gut (FDA). |
| Raw yeast dough | Never | Expands in the stomach and produces alcohol (ASPCA). |
| Grapes, raisins, fruit salad with grapes | Never | Linked to kidney failure in dogs (Merck). |
| Pumpkin pie, sugar-free desserts, chocolate | Never | Possible xylitol or chocolate; pie filling is sweetened and spiced. |
Read this graphic as text
Thanksgiving · Thursday 26 November 2026
Your dog's Thanksgiving plate
Yes
Small, plain
- Turkey breast, no skin, no bones, no seasoning
- Plain green beans
- Plain sweet potato
- Plain pumpkin
No
Too rich
- Turkey skin and drippings
- Gravy (salty bouillon)
- Buttery mashed potatoes
Never
Dangerous
- Stuffing with onion or garlic
- Cooked bones, the carcass
- Raw yeast dough
- Grapes and raisins
- Pie, sugar-free desserts, chocolate
Based on ASPCA, US FDA and Merck Veterinary Manual guidance. Ate something dangerous? Call your vet or a pet poison line now.
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How much turkey can a dog have?
Keep all extras, turkey included, to 10% or less of your dog's daily calories, the limit recommended by the WSAVA and AAHA veterinary associations (Príncipe et al., 2025). For a 25 lb dog that is roughly 60 to 70 calories, or about 1.5 oz of plain turkey breast.
We worked out the table below with AAHA's formula: resting energy is 70 × body weight in kg to the power of 0.75, multiplied by 1.4 to 1.6 for a neutered adult dog (AAHA, 2021). Calorie values come from USDA FoodData Central: roasted turkey breast meat has 147 kcal and about 2 g of fat per 100 g, while roasted turkey skin has 459 kcal and 39 g of fat, nearly 19 times as much fat.
| Dog's weight | Daily calories (estimate) | 10% treat budget | Plain turkey breast | Turkey skin, same calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 305 to 350 kcal | 30 to 35 kcal | about 0.8 oz (20 to 24 g) | about 1/4 oz (7 to 8 g) |
| 25 lb (11.3 kg) | 605 to 690 kcal | 60 to 70 kcal | about 1.5 oz (41 to 47 g) | about 1/2 oz (13 to 15 g) |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 1,020 to 1,165 kcal | 100 to 115 kcal | about 2.5 oz (69 to 79 g) | under 1 oz (22 to 25 g) |
| 75 lb (34 kg) | 1,380 to 1,580 kcal | 140 to 160 kcal | about 3.5 oz (94 to 107 g) | about 1 oz (30 to 34 g) |
Estimates for healthy, neutered adult dogs. AAHA notes that sedentary or indoor dogs may need fewer calories, so if your dog is less active, overweight or has had pancreatitis before, give less or skip it. Puppies and dogs on prescription diets: ask your vet first.
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The 10% treat budget
How much turkey can my dog have?
Extras should stay under 10% of daily calories. Estimates for healthy, neutered adult dogs.
| Dog's weight | Treat budget | Plain turkey breast | Turkey skin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 30 to 35 kcal | about 0.8 oz | about 1/4 oz |
| 25 lb (11.3 kg) | 60 to 70 kcal | about 1.5 oz | about 1/2 oz |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 100 to 115 kcal | about 2.5 oz | under 1 oz |
| 75 lb (34 kg) | 140 to 160 kcal | about 3.5 oz | about 1 oz |
147 kcal
and about 2 g fat per 100 g of roasted turkey breast
459 kcal
and 39 g fat per 100 g of roasted turkey skin: nearly 19 times the fat
Calculated with AAHA's energy formula (70 × kg^0.75 × 1.4 to 1.6) and USDA FoodData Central values. Less for inactive or overweight dogs.
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Build your dog's own Thanksgiving plate
Set your dog's portion aside before anything is buttered or seasoned. Take a little plain turkey breast from the budget above, add a tablespoon of plain cooked green beans or plain pumpkin for a large dog (a teaspoon for a small one), and reduce their usual dinner slightly to make room. Serve it in their own bowl at their usual mealtime, not from the table. That way your dog joins the feast without learning to beg, and their stomach gets something it recognises.
Thanksgiving foods that are dangerous for dogs
The most dangerous Thanksgiving foods for dogs are cooked bones, onion and garlic, grapes and raisins, xylitol, raw yeast dough and fatty scraps. Some cause poisoning; others cause injury or pancreatitis.
- Cooked bones and the carcass. The FDA warns that dogs often help themselves to the turkey carcass, and that bones can get stuck in the oesophagus, stomach or windpipe, while sharp pieces can injure the mouth and gut (FDA).
- Onion and garlic. Stuffing, gravy and casseroles often contain both. They damage red blood cells; anaemia usually develops 3 to 5 days after eating, garlic is 3 to 5 times more toxic than onion, and cooking does not make them safe (Merck Veterinary Manual). Signs include weakness, fast breathing, pale or yellow gums and red or dark urine.
- Grapes and raisins. More than one grape or raisin per 10 lb of body weight may risk the kidneys (Merck Veterinary Manual).
- Xylitol. Sugar-free desserts and some nut butters can contain it. Doses above about 100 mg per kg can cause low blood sugar in dogs (Merck Veterinary Manual).
- Raw yeast dough and batter. Dough rises in the stomach and produces alcohol; batter with raw eggs can carry salmonella (ASPCA).
- The trash. Bag up the carcass and scraps straight away and put them in a bin your dog cannot open, as the FDA advises.
If your dog eats something on this list, call your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 ($99 per incident) or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 straight away, rather than waiting for signs.
For dogs with sensitive digestion who need steady, everyday support through a season of richer food and changed routines. An Ayurvedic herbal formula with Triphala, ginger, fennel and cumin, plus milk thistle. Rated 4.7 stars by customers. Follow the dosage on the pack. Not a treatment for vomiting, diarrhoea or pancreatitis: those need your vet.
See GoodGut+Signs of pancreatitis after Thanksgiving
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, and a fatty meal is one recognised trigger in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals lists vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever, lethargy and loss of appetite as signs, sometimes with a "praying position" (rear end up, front legs and head down), and notes that severe attacks can lead to shock and death (VCA Animal Hospitals). See your vet promptly if your dog vomits more than once, refuses food, or seems painful or unusually flat on Friday or the weekend after the feast.
The day after: a lighter day
Ayurveda describes digestion as agni, a digestive fire that rich, heavy food can smother, and its traditional answer after a feast is langhana, a lightening day: simpler food and nothing extra. For a dog who ate their small, plain share and is bright and well, that simply means their normal meals on Friday, no leftovers, fresh water and a good long walk. A teaspoon to a tablespoon of plain canned pumpkin with dinner, depending on size, is a gentle traditional addition (see our pumpkin for dogs guide). If there is mild loose stool but your dog is otherwise well, our guide to home care for an upset stomach covers what to watch; anything more goes to your vet.
AyurPet's take
We love that dogs are part of the holiday. But sharing our feast the way we eat it, rich and all at once, treats a dog like a small person, and their gut is not built for it. The kinder gift is a small, plain plate of their own, served at their own time.
The rest of the year is where digestion is really made: steady meals, plain food, daily walks, and Ayurvedic herbs such as Triphala, ginger and fennel for dogs who need extra support, which is how we formulated GoodGut+. Read more in our dog gut health guide. And if your dog has had pancreatitis before, skip the turkey and give a walk instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs eat turkey skin?
No. Roasted turkey skin has nearly 19 times the fat of breast meat, and fatty scraps can trigger pancreatitis. Give only plain, skinless, boneless breast.
Can dogs eat stuffing?
No. Stuffing usually contains onion, garlic or both, which damage a dog's red blood cells even when cooked. It is also often rich in butter.
What should I do if my dog ate a turkey bone?
Call your vet straight away. Do not make your dog vomit. Watch for gagging, drooling, vomiting, a tense belly, straining or blood in the stool, and go in immediately if you see any.
Can dogs have mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes?
Plain cooked sweet potato or potato in small amounts, yes. Mashed potatoes made with butter, cream, garlic or gravy, no.
How we researched this: Written by the AyurPet research team from 10 sources, including the ASPCA, the US FDA, the Merck Veterinary Manual, AAHA, USDA FoodData Central and peer-reviewed research. Calorie figures are our own calculations from AAHA and USDA data. Last reviewed October 2026.
References
- ASPCA. Thanksgiving Safety Tips. aspca.org
- US Food and Drug Administration. Keep Your Dogs and Cats Safe From Holiday Hazards. Updated 2025. fda.gov
- Hayes C. Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual; 2024. merckvetmanual.com
- Hayes C. Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind Toxicosis in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual; 2024. merckvetmanual.com
- Hayes C. Xylitol Toxicosis in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual; 2024. merckvetmanual.com
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Pancreatitis in Dogs. vcahospitals.com
- American Animal Hospital Association. Energy Requirement Calculations, 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. aaha.org
- Príncipe LA, Marchi PH, Amaral AR, et al. Assessment of the Nutritional Impact of the 10% Snack Recommendation in Pet Diets. Veterinary Sciences. 2025;12(3):282. doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12030282
- US Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central: Turkey, whole, skin (light and dark), roasted (FDC 171082); Turkey, whole, breast, meat only, cooked, roasted (FDC 171496). fdc.nal.usda.gov
- Pet Poison Helpline. petpoisonhelpline.com
Plate your dog's share before the gravy goes on, bag the carcass before you sit down, and enjoy the day together. For questions about your dog's diet or a sensitive stomach, our online vet consultation is there to help.