Thanksgiving and holiday pet safety guide

Written from the sources below on 17 October 2026. How we use sources.

The holidays bring rich food, strangers, open doors and shiny things on the floor. This guide covers the Thanksgiving table first, then guests and doors, then the December decorations. It draws on the AVMA, the ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline.

Write down these numbers first

• Your veterinarian's clinic and the nearest 24/7 emergency veterinary clinic. The AVMA says to find out in advance where you would take your pet, and to plan your route so you are not searching while stressed.
• ASPCA Poison Control: 888-426-4435.
• Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661. The AVMA notes that a fee may apply to both.

The AVMA says quick action can save lives. Signs that your pet ate something it should not have include sudden behavior changes, depression, pain, loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea. Call your vet or the emergency clinic right away.

The Thanksgiving table

Turkey, skin, gravy and bones

• The AVMA says plain, boneless, skinless turkey is generally safe for pets in small portions. Gravy, sauces, dressing, and meat or poultry fat or skin can be hard to digest, and sometimes even a small amount can cause pancreatitis.
• The ASPCA says if you share a small bite of turkey or other meat, make sure it is boneless and fully cooked. Raw or undercooked turkey can carry salmonella, and poultry bones can cause choking.
• The AVMA says bones can also cause choking or an intestinal blockage, and poultry bones can damage your pet's digestive tract.

Onions, garlic, grapes and raisins

• ASPCApro says onions and garlic turn up in casseroles, stuffing and mashed potatoes. They can damage red blood cells in cats and dogs and lead to anemia, and cats are more sensitive.
• The AVMA names onions, raisins and grapes as foods that are healthy for people but poisonous to pets.
• Pet Poison Helpline says grapes, raisins and currants can cause kidney failure in dogs.

Bouillon, dough and batter

• Bouillon cubes are very high in sodium. The ASPCA says they can cause stomach problems and seizures. ASPCApro lists excessive thirst, stumbling and tremors among the signs.
• Raw yeast bread dough can expand in a pet's stomach and produce alcohol that the body absorbs (ASPCA). The AVMA says it can cause painful gas and bloating that can become dangerous.
• Keep raw batter away from pets, because raw eggs can carry salmonella (ASPCA).

Pie, chocolate and xylitol

• The AVMA says small pieces of plain pumpkin can be a healthy snack, but pumpkin pie can contain ingredients that are toxic to animals. Save pies for people.
• Xylitol, a sweetener in gum and sugar-free baked goods, can be deadly to dogs or cats (AVMA). The ASPCA says it can cause dangerously low blood sugar and liver damage.
• Chocolate can cause vomiting, tremors and seizures (ASPCA), and the AVMA says to treat all chocolate as off limits for pets.
• Keep alcoholic drinks out of reach. Pet Poison Helpline says alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature, plus seizures and breathing failure.

Give your pet its own dinner

The ASPCA suggests a small meal of your pet's own. Mixing in plain turkey, sweet potatoes or green beans is one option, and a food puzzle toy keeps pets busy during dinner. The AVMA says if you want to share a treat, make or buy one made for pets.

Trash and leftovers

• The AVMA says to put turkey carcasses, bones and anything used to wrap or tie the meat, such as string and packaging, in a tightly secured trash bag inside a closed container outdoors or behind a closed, locked door.
• Clear food from the table, counters and serving areas when you finish. A carcass or a lot of meat left out on the carving table could endanger your pet if eaten (AVMA).
• The ASPCA says to empty the trash often, because it can hold bones, chocolate, onions and other hazards.

Guests, doors and a quiet room

• Give your pet a retreat. The ASPCA says a crowded home can overwhelm pets. Leave blankets on the floor or a bedroom door open so they have somewhere quiet to curl up. The AVMA says to choose a room or crate away from the commotion that guests will not follow them into.
• If your pet is nervous around visitors, the AVMA says to put it in another room or a crate with a favorite toy. If your pet is very upset by houseguests, talk to your vet.
• Ask guests to keep bags and coats out of paws' reach. The ASPCA says guests' medications are a common cause of pet poisoning.
• Watch the exits. The AVMA says even calm pets can slip out the door while you welcome guests and take coats.
• Make sure your pet has ID with your current contact information, especially a microchip with up-to-date registered details. The AVMA says that makes it far more likely your pet is returned if it gets out.

If your cat does get out, read How to find a lost cat and print the lost cat flyer.

Plants and table decorations

• The AVMA says amaryllis, baby's breath, sweet William, some ferns and hydrangeas are among the flowers and plants that can be toxic to pets. Corn cobs, pine cones and gourds can cause choking or a blockage if swallowed. The safest thing is to keep pets away from all plants and table decorations.
• The ASPCA says lilies are highly toxic to cats. Pet Poison Helpline says lilies are the most dangerous holiday plant for cats and can cause sudden kidney failure.
• The ASPCA says mistletoe and holly can cause stomach upset and heart problems, and poinsettias cause mild to moderate stomach irritation.

December decorations

• Christmas tree: the AVMA says it can tip over if pets climb it or play with the lights and ornaments, and suggests tying it to the ceiling or a doorframe with fishing line. Do not add anything to the tree water if you have pets, because additives can be hazardous if swallowed.
• Tinsel and ribbon: the AVMA says swallowed tinsel, ribbons and wreath material can cause choking or an intestinal blockage. Pet Poison Helpline says tinsel can cause a life-threatening intestinal injury in cats that often needs abdominal surgery.
• Ornaments: breakable ornaments can cut, and swallowed ones can block the gut. The AVMA says to keep all ornaments, including salt-dough ones, out of reach.
• Lights and cords: the AVMA says chewed cords can burn a pet. Unplug decorations when you leave the house.
• Candles: never leave a pet alone with a lit candle or oil lamp (AVMA).
• Liquid potpourri: the AVMA says it can severely damage a pet's mouth, eyes and skin. Pet Poison Helpline says it can cause chemical burns, breathing trouble and tremors in cats.
• Snow globes: the ASPCA says they contain ethylene glycol, which is highly toxic, so clean up breakages thoroughly. Pet Poison Helpline says some imported snow globes contain antifreeze, and early signs include acting drunk, excessive thirst and lethargy.

Holiday travel

The AVMA says a pet may need a health certificate from your vet to cross state lines or international borders, by air or by land, so check the rules for each place you will pass through. Always restrain pets in a secure, fitted harness or a carrier placed clear of airbags, and never leave a pet alone in the car in any weather. For cats, read Traveling with a cat.

Questions people ask

What is safe for cats to eat on Thanksgiving?

Plain, boneless, skinless turkey in a small portion, according to the AVMA. The ASPCA says a small bite of boneless, fully cooked turkey, and suggests plain turkey, sweet potatoes or green beans in a cat's own small meal. Skip gravy, stuffing, skin and bones. Cats are more sensitive than dogs to onions and garlic (ASPCApro).

What are the biggest Thanksgiving dangers for pets?

Fatty scraps that can cause pancreatitis, bones, onions and garlic, raisins and grapes, xylitol in desserts, raw dough, and unattended trash (AVMA, ASPCA, ASPCApro). Add guests' medications and open doors.

Should I give my pet a bite of pie?

The AVMA says no. Pumpkin pie can contain ingredients that are toxic to animals, and the AVMA says xylitol in sugar-free baked goods can be deadly to dogs or cats.