A table set for the Thanksgiving holiday, including turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes.

The usual Thanksgiving Day spread with delicious, seasoned turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pies may sound like a treat, but for pets, especially your dog, it can be dangerous and even fatal in some extreme cases.

"Thanksgiving is a perfect storm of tempting smells and dangerous ingredients," Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and owner of West Hollywood-based pet clinic Paw Priority Dr. Ezra Ameis told USA TODAY. "As an ER vet for over a decade, I see a huge spike in emergencies right after the holidays. Fatty or sweet foods, even in small amounts, can cause major gastrointestinal issues."

Dr. Ameis said that while a lot of classic Thanksgiving dishes are generally safe for pets, particularly dogs, in small amounts, pet owners should still "be careful" and exercise caution when it comes to feeding their pets from the table.

"While those puppy dog eyes can be hard to resist, it's important to fight the urge to feed pets table scraps," Best Friends Animal Society says on its website. "Too many rich, fatty, or simply new foods can upset a pet’s stomach—and even cause pancreatitis, which can be life-threatening."

Here what dog and other pet owners should keep in mind about which foods are suitable for your dogs and which ones to avoid during the holiday season.

Is turkey safe for dogs?

Plain, boneless, and skinless turkey is generally safe for dogs to eat, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Dr. Ameis agrees. However, stuffing, seasonings, skin and bones are a hard no for your canine friends and can create digestive issues for them.

"A good rule: if it is seasoned enough that a human wants seconds, your dog does not need it," Dr. Ameis said. "Stick to plain, unseasoned foods only."

The doctor added bones, "even turkey bones, are never safe."

"Poultry bones splinter, and I have seen everything from obstructions to throat injuries to intestinal perforations," Dr. Ameis said.

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Fruits and vegetables

Simple sides like plain green beans, steamed carrots, a little cooked sweet potato, or a spoonful of unseasoned mashed potato are suitable options for your dogs, according to Dr. Ameis.

While cranberry sauce without added sugar or raisins are "technically okay," Dr. Ameis said, though "most store-bought versions are too sweet," and he recommends people to keep their pets away from it.

Sliced raw carrots and apples, however, are suitable snack options for canines, Dr. Danielle Bernal, a global veterinarian with Wellness Pet Company previously told USA TODAY. Carrots are low in calories and protect against cataracts and heart disease and pectin in apples supports the digestive system.

Desserts

Most desserts like pumpkin pie, apple pie, cookies and anything with nutmeg, chocolate, xylitol, raisins or large amounts of sugar should be avoided completely, Dr. Ameis warned.

"Pumpkin pie can contain ingredients that are toxic to animals," AVMA says, explaining that "uncooked, yeast-based bread dough can cause problems for pets, including painful gas and potentially dangerous bloating."

Foods to keep away from your dogs:

  • Chocolates: Like humans, dog crave chocolate, but chocolate can be immensely harmful for pets, AVMA says. "Caffeine and theobromine in chocolate and cocoa powder are highly toxic due to their ability to increase heart rate, blood pressure, agitation, tremors and seizures or even potentially lead to death," Dr. Bernal said.
  • Xylitol: The artificial sweetener commonly used in gum and sugar-free baked goods can be deadly for both dogs and cats, as per AVMA and Best Friends veterinarians.
  • Seasonings and spices: Use of onion and garlic "can be harmful to pets as they contain compounds that can damage red blood cells resulting in lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, pale gums, and red or brown urine," Dr. Bernal said.
  • Nutmeg: When consumed in large amounts, nutmeg can be toxic due to the hallucinogenic compound myristicin.
  • Grapes and raisins are also toxic to dogs.

What is the most common reason pet owners visit the ER during Thanksgiving?

Gastrointestinal emergencies are by far the most common, Dr. Ameis says, followed by toxicity cases, "especially from onions, garlic, sage, chocolate, xylitol desserts, and alcohol spills," which "show up in a lot of holiday dishes." Cooked bone obstructions or splinters lodged in the throat are also a common concern.

"Thanksgiving food is delicious because it is seasoned heavily," Dr. Ameis said. "That is exactly why pets should not get most of it."

Dr. Ameis added Thanksgiving is a "common time for dogs to develop pancreatitis," with many needing hospitalizations.

"Dogs have very sensitive digestive systems, and their weak spot is their pancreas," the vet said. "Even small amounts of sweet or fatty foods can trigger vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis, or foreign body ingestion."

Warn guests to be mindful about treats

While pet owners usually understand what to feed their furry friends, your guests may not and Dr. Ameis recommends reminding guests not to "treat" your dog at the table.

"Well-meaning relatives are responsible for half the gastrointestinal cases I see the next day," Dr. Ameis said.

Dog-friendly Thanksgiving recipes

Ensuring your pet's involvement in the holiday feast should not be a task and Dr. Ameis says you do not need anything special to make them.

A simple Thanksgiving dog bowl can include:

  • A few tablespoons of plain turkey meat, sans skin and bones
  • A scoop of cooked sweet potato or plain pumpkin puree
  • A small serving of green beans or carrots
  • A splash of low sodium turkey broth made before any seasoning is added

"Mix everything together and you have a safe, tasty holiday meal that your dog can enjoy alongside the family," Dr. Ameis said. "Dogs love bland food; they do not need the Thanksgiving flavor profile."

Best Friends also has a list of pet-friendly Thanksgiving recipes on its website.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can dogs eat turkey? Here's which Thanksgiving foods are pet safe

Reporting by Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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