Holiday pet safety: Thanksgiving leftovers that are safe for your pets

November 13, 2:09 PMDC Pet Care ExaminerErin Paquette

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While giving your pets Thanksgiving leftovers can be a heartwarming experience for you and an exciting experience for them, it is important to be aware of which Thanksgiving leftovers are pet friendly, and which ones should remain in your fridge and away from your pets’ food dish.

To help you decipher which Thanksgiving leftovers are safe for your pets to eat, we have compiled two lists below -- a “safe” list and a “not safe” list -- that you can use as a quick reference during your Thanksgiving meal. But be sure to pay attention to the pets mentioned in the lists, and how the food should be prepared; just because something is safe for a dog doesn’t mean it’s safe for a cat.

If you, or your family, eat a food during the Thanksgiving holiday that is not mentioned on the lists below, do some additional research or talk to your local vet about the safety of the food in question.

The “Safe” List

Cranberry Sauce

While cranberry sauce is safe for most dogs, it has the potential to make them a little wild or give them an upset stomach if they’re not used to fruit or foods high in sugar. So if you want to give your dogs a little cranberry sauce this holiday season, start out slow and see how your dog reacts. Cranberry sauce should also be safe for cats and potbellied pigs, but again, only in small portions.

Green Beans

Safe for cats, dogs, potbellied pigs and guinea pigs, green beans that are low in sodium (try using unsalted ones) can actually be good for your pets when served in moderation. As long as the green beans you have leftover this Thanksgiving don’t have anything extra added (no green bean casserole!) they are pet friendly Thanksgiving leftovers.    

Ice Cream (Dogs Only)

While it is not a good idea to give your cat, guinea pig, potbellied pig, or any other common pet type ice cream this Thanksgiving, ice cream is safe for dogs to eat in small amounts.

Macaroni and Cheese (Dogs and Potbellied Pigs Only)

As long as you don’t give you dog or potbellied pig too much macaroni and cheese, it is safe for them to eat on occasion, but not all the time.

Mashed Potatoes

As long as you don’t add anything extra to your mashed potatoes (such as cheese, sour cream, or gravy) mashed potatoes should be safe for dogs, cats, and pigs. But again, remember portion control: don’t give them too much, and consider mixing a little bit of mashed potatoes into their dry food instead of giving them mashed potatoes by itself.

Turkey

While leftover turkey can be safe for dogs, cats, and potbellied pigs, make sure that the turkey does not have any bones, and that any excess fat and the skin has been removed. Also be careful about portion control, not giving your pets -- no matter how big they are -- human sized portions of turkey. It will be very rich for them, and could cause them to be sick if given too much. 

The “Not Safe” List

The following foods are not safe for dogs, cats, potbellied pigs, or guinea pigs. Never give the following foods or beverages to your pets:

• Alcohol
• Anything with Caffeine
• Bones from Ham, Chicken, or Turkey
• Candied Yams
• Casseroles
• Chocolate (this includes things like brownies and chocolate chip cookies)
• Jell-O Molds
• Nuts (this includes things like cookies and pies)
• Pecan Pie
• Potato Skins
• Pork Products
• Stuffing (it usually contains onions, which is very harmful to pets)

*NOTE* While this content has been researched, it has not been written by a certified veterinarian, and therefore should not be treated as professional advice. Be sure to check with your local vet if you question the validity of anything contained in this article.

If you’d like to look at some additional sites about which leftovers are safe to feed your pets this Thanksgiving, please click on the following links:

• Nutrition for Cats
• Nutrition for Dogs
• Nutrition for Guinea Pigs
• Nutrition for Potbellied Pigs