These are the Thanksgiving scraps you can and can’t let your dog have

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Before you hand over some turkey to your pup this Thanksgiving, there are some things you should know about how to keep them safe and healthy.

Can your dog eat turkey?

According to AVMA, eating turkey or turkey skin can cause pancreatitis in dogs, which can be a life-threatening condition. Doherty agreed, saying to try and avoid giving your dog any food from your Thanksgiving spread.

“We don’t recommend that your dog eat anything off of your Thanksgiving table, a lot of those foods have really high fat content, and it can cause an upset tummy,” Doherty said.

Can you give your dog dessert?

According to AVMA, artificial sugars can be deadly if consumed by dogs. Doherty adds that dogs shouldn’t have real sugar either. 

“We definitely do not recommend giving your dog any type of dessert, really,” Doherty said. “Any time you want to introduce any new food to your dog, we really recommend talking to your vet about it first because every pet is different.”

Can you give your dog leftover sides?

It all depends on the side. The Pet Poison Helpline lists green beans, sweet potatoes, and carrots as pet-safe foods. Purina adds cranberries, pumpkin, and mashed potatoes. It’s important to stress that these foods must be free of oil, butter, fats, sugars, spices, seasonings, and salt.

The AVMA also recommends keeping trash secured and out of reach. Items like turkey carcasses, bones, and food scraps should go into a tightly sealed bag.

Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

VERIFY is dedicated to helping the public distinguish between true and false information. The VERIFY team, with help from questions submitted by the audience, tracks the spread of stories or claims that need clarification or correction. Have something you want VERIFIED? Text us at 704-329-3600 or visit /verify.