Thanksgiving offers you and your family members a chance to enjoy a delicious homemade feast, but what about your pets? If you want to include them in the holiday celebration by giving them traditional Thanksgiving foods, it’s important to know which ones are safe for them to have and which ones to avoid.

Foods to Avoid

Certain foods can make pets ill, while others aren’t healthy for them. Avoid giving your pets the following foods, and make sure you let guests know to do the same.

• Turkey bones: Don’t toss any turkey bones to dogs for them to chew on. These bones can splinter and end up getting stuck in their intestines, leading to an emergency visit to the vet.
• Gravy: Gravy contains a high level of fat, which can cause dogs to vomit or have diarrhea. Some dogs might also have a higher risk of developing a serious condition called pancreatitis from eating gravy, turkey skin or other fatty foods.
• Stuffing and mashed potatoes: These traditional Thanksgiving foods typically have high amounts of fat from butter. Keep in mind that certain ingredients, such as onions are toxic to pets.
• Pies: Common holiday desserts, such as pumpkin pie and apple pie, have a lot of sugar, which isn’t healthy for pets. Avoid anything with chocolate, which is toxic to pets.

Safe and Healthy Holiday Foods

The following foods are typically safe and healthy for pets. Keep in mind that you should talk to your vet if your pets have conditions that require them to follow a special diet or avoid certain foods.

• Turkey: Pieces of boneless, skinless turkey are alright for most pets, but you should only give them small amounts. If you do give your pets turkey, give them light meat rather than dark meat, which has more fat.
• Sweet potatoes: Plain sweet potatoes are nutritious for pets. If you plan on making a sweet potato dish for Thanksgiving, set aside some plain pieces for your pets. Don’t give them sweet potatoes covered with sugar or marshmallows.
• Green beans and corn: These vegetables can be a healthy treat to give pets on Thanksgiving. Make sure they’re plain instead of being covered in butter though.

 Keep these tips in mind, and you and your pets can have a safe Thanksgiving together while enjoying some great holiday food.