5 Thanksgiving Foods That Are Toxic to Dogs and Cats

Holiday meals should be joyful for everyone—including our furry family members. A little knowledge can prevent a Thanksgiving emergency.

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite times of year, but it's also when we see an uptick in pet emergencies at Peak Paws. The good news? Most holiday pet incidents are completely preventable. By understanding which thanksgiving foods toxic to dogs and cats are lurking on your dinner table, you can keep your beloved companions safe while everyone enjoys the celebration together.

Your kitchen on Thanksgiving becomes a minefield of temptations and hidden dangers for curious noses. From the traditional turkey to the grandma's secret recipe stuffing, the holiday spread contains several foods that seem harmless to us but can be genuinely dangerous for our pets. The team at Peak Paws sees these cases regularly, and we want to help you keep your pets out of harm's way.

Let's walk through the five most dangerous thanksgiving foods toxic to cats and dogs, what makes them risky, and how you can keep your celebration safe for the entire family.

1. Chocolate Desserts: A Sweet Threat

Chocolate might be the most well-known pet toxin, but many pet parents underestimate how much chocolate is actually present on the holiday table. While a nibble of white chocolate won't cause serious harm, dark chocolate and baking chocolate contain theobromine—a compound that dogs and cats cannot process the way humans do.

Even small amounts of dark chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, and restlessness in pets. More serious cases lead to tremors, seizures, and in rare instances, fatality. The risk increases with smaller dogs and cats, since the toxin is dose-dependent. That innocent chocolate dessert someone slipped to your dog under the table? It could mean a trip to the emergency vet.

What you can do: Keep all chocolate desserts, chocolate chips, and cocoa-dusted treats on high shelves or in closed containers. Make a "no pets" zone during dessert, and remind guests not to sneak treats to your furry friends—even when they give you those irresistible puppy-dog eyes.

2. Turkey Bones: Choking and Perforation Hazards

Turkey bones are incredibly tempting to dogs and cats, and they can cause serious injuries. Unlike the raw bones some people feed intentionally, cooked bones become brittle and splinter easily. These fragments can lodge in the throat, causing choking, or worse—they can puncture the digestive tract, leading to life-threatening internal bleeding.

Cats are especially vulnerable because they're more inclined to swallow bones whole, while dogs might crush them into dangerous fragments. Even small bone chips can cause blockages that require emergency surgery.

What you can do: Dispose of turkey bones immediately in a secure, pet-proof trash can. Ask guests to place their bones on their own plates rather than leaving them on the serving table. Keep your pet out of the kitchen during cleanup—this is when most bone-related incidents happen.

3. Onions and Garlic in Stuffing: Hidden Toxins

Many traditional Thanksgiving stuffing recipes include onions, garlic, or both. These ingredients contain compounds called thiosulfates that damage red blood cells in dogs and cats, causing a condition called hemolytic anemia. The danger isn't always immediate—symptoms might appear hours or even days after exposure.

Both onions and garlic are toxic in any form: raw, cooked, powdered, or dehydrated. A small amount might just cause mild digestive upset, but larger quantities can cause serious illness marked by lethargy, weakness, pale gums, and dark urine.

What you can do: Make an "onion and garlic-free" pet-friendly version of stuffing, or keep the traditional recipe safely away from your pets. Read ingredient labels on any homemade dishes—onion or garlic powder can hide in unexpected recipes.

4. Grapes and Raisins in Holiday Salads

Grapes and raisins are among the most dangerous foods you might not realize are toxic. Even a single raisin or a few grapes can cause acute kidney failure in some dogs and cats. The mechanism behind the toxicity still isn't fully understood, but the risk is real and serious.

The problem is that toxicity varies from pet to pet—some animals show no symptoms after exposure, while others become critically ill. Because the response is so unpredictable, any grape or raisin ingestion should be treated as a potential emergency. Symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and decreased appetite, often followed by kidney problems.

What you can do: Keep all grapes and raisins away from your pets, even if your pet has eaten them before without incident. Check all salads, desserts, and side dishes for hidden raisins or dried grapes. Remind guests that these items are absolutely not safe to share with pets, unlike some other foods.

5. What to Do If Your Pet Eats Something Toxic

Despite your best efforts, accidents happen. If your pet ingests any holiday pet safety concern, here's what you should do:

Immediate steps: Don't panic. Call Peak Paws right away at (919) 605-6300—we're open 24/7, even on Thanksgiving. Have the following information ready: what your pet ate, how much, and when they ate it.

Before you arrive: Don't induce vomiting unless specifically instructed—some substances cause more damage coming back up. If possible, bring the packaging or container of what was ingested so our team knows exactly what we're dealing with.

At Peak Paws: Our experienced team will assess your pet, run necessary diagnostics, and provide treatment based on what they ingested. Early intervention often makes a tremendous difference in outcomes, so don't wait to see if your pet "seems fine."

Your Pet's Safety Net This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, family, and celebration—and that includes keeping your pets safe. By understanding the dangers lurking on your holiday table, you're already ahead of the game. Most incidents are completely preventable with a little planning and awareness.

At Peak Paws Advanced Veterinary Hospital, we're here for your pets 24/7, including all of Thanksgiving. If your pet does encounter a toxic substance or any emergency, we're ready to help. Our team of experienced veterinarians and caring staff know that holidays can be stressful—and that's exactly why we're here.

This Thanksgiving, celebrate the joy of having your furry family members at the table, knowing you've taken the steps to keep them safe. That's something truly worth giving thanks for.

Questions about what's safe to feed your pet this Thanksgiving? Call us anytime at (919) 605-6300. We're here when you need us most.