Thanksgiving Dog Safety Tips
Updated: Feb 16, 2022
Thanksgiving Dog Safety Tips
Think ahead to the day after Thanksgiving. Where would you rather be – lounging on the couch with your dog sleeping on the floor next to you, hitting the after-Thanksgiving sales – or at the vet’s office praying that your dog survives or searching the neighborhood because he has escaped? I know where I wouldn’t want to be!
You can avoid tragedy by being aware of the hazards and dangers to your dog and practicing a few Thanksgiving dog safety tips.
Dogs like predictable routines, and Thanksgiving is not predictable. There’s lots of people coming and going, meals are prepared and eaten at odd hours, there’s lots of tempting food sitting around in bowls just waiting to be scarfed down. Dogs can get overly excited or nervous – and some dogs who are on the nervous side may get aggressive because the added stress simply “puts them over the top.”
If you know what to look out for ahead of time and how to prepare, then *you* won’t have (much!) added stress. So here’s some Thanksgiving dog safety tips for you so everyone can enjoy the day.
Thanksgiving Preparation for your Dog
You’re going to have a lot going on, especially if you’re cooking dinner. But please don’t neglect your dog! Keep to his regular schedule as much as possible. If you can’t walk or exercise him, look into getting a family member, neighbor, or a dogwalker. Be sure to exercise him before your guests arrive – tire him out, but don’t go overboard.
Dogs talk to us all the time and tell us they are stressed, but we often misinterpret what they are saying because we use our frame of reference – which is only human! What we intend and how our dogs interpret what we do many times are two different things. For example, most dogs don’t like to be hugged. To them, it’s a threat. What do children, especially little girls, absolutely LOVE to do to dogs? – hug them.
Prepare a dog safe-room away from all the commotion with his bed, water, and classical music. Give him a scrumptious treat-filled toy – perhaps stuffed with pumpkin or carrots – such as a frozen Kong or puzzle toy that that he can chew both to relieve his stress and for the fun of chewing. He may need more water than he usually gets because dogs pant more when they are excited or stressed or someone may tip his water bowl. So check it to be sure he has water.
Be sure your dog is wearing ID dog tags just in case he slips out an open door or gate.
If you are going out for Thanksgiving dinner or a parade, please leave your dog at home.
Finally, just for peace of mind, be sure you have your vet’s phone number handy and the name and address of the nearest emergency veterinary hospital so you don't have to search for them if you are in a panic.
Where should your dog be while you are preparing Thanksgiving dinner?
Keep dogs out of kitchen! If your dog stays out of the kitchen, this prevents:
Burning from hot liquids or food
Injury from something falling on your dog such as knives or pots
Your tripping over him
If you are frying the turkey or grilling any meats, keep your dog away from the fryer or grill where he could easily run into those or jump on them and get severely burned.
Keep all pot and pan handles on the stove turned inward.
Keep food away from doggie thieves by covering it and placing it out of reach of countertop and table edges.
After you’ve cooked the meal and *before* you sit down to eat, throw out all food and food-related garbage. Put something heavy such as a brick on top of your garbage can outside to ensure the lid will not come off. If you have a lot of other trash, then put it in your closed garage or storage area away from your dog until garbage collection day.
These cooking items can be consumed by your dog and get stuck in the intestinal track causing a blockage or perforation:
Baking string or mesh (that you use on a turkey or a roast)
Napkins
Plastic bags or shrink-wrap covering
Plastic eating utensils
Plastic glasses
Plastic or paper plates
Plastic wrap
Pop up timers
Roasting bags
Skewers
Tin foil
Toothpicks
Wax paper
Where should your dog be
while you are eating Thanksgiving dinner?
The best place for your dog is away from the table, preferably in that dog safe-room with a closed door or one that is gated off. If your guests can’t see his pleading eyes, then they won’t be tempted to give him some of their dinner!
Give your dog something to chew on, such as a frozen treat-filled food dispensing toy like a Kong or bully stick.
Please instruct your guests that they should not give him a Please, please, please ask your guests NOT to feed your dog except his own food or treats – during the meal or at any other time because deviation from his diet can upset his stomach. In fact, the safest place for him may be in that dog safe-room away from all the commotion of cheering from football games, kids running around, lots and lots of conversations (you know which family members are louder than others!)
Even though you may think your dog is a member of the family who should be included in the celebrations, your dog may become stressed because this gathering is such a departure from his routine.
Where should your dog be
when you are cleaning up after Thanksgiving dinner?
Keeping your dog away from leftovers – both food and anything used to prepare the meal – is essential.
PLEASE don’t give cooked bones to your dog. Cooked bones spell disaster for your dogs because they easily splinter and could puncture your dog’s his throat or intestines.
Put any leftovers in tightly closed containers and refrigerate them immediately to keep canine thieves away.
Regarding the turkey carcass, put it in a plastic bag, tie it up, and throw it in the outside garbage can immediately after eating.
Thanksgiving Foods that are Hazardous to your Dog
One especially dangerous Thanksgiving food is turkey skin. If you think your dog has eaten any or has any of these symptoms, then he may have pancreatitis, so take him to your vet asap. Symptoms of pancreatitis are:
Abdominal pain
Dehydration
Diarrhea (which may contain blood)
Fever
Increased water consumption with or without vomiting afterwards
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Here are some other Thanksgiving foods that are hazardous and can injure or poison your dog:
Alcohol – wine, beer, mixed drinks, eggnog
Bread dough expands in your dog’s stomach and causes pain and bloat, which is 100% fatal unless treated IMMEDIATELY. (See my article on Bloat in Dogs.)
Buttery side dishes
Cake batter, especially if it includes raw eggs
Candy or chocolate can cause seizures and is especially lethal to small dogs. Your dog can steal some from a candy dish or your guests may inadvertently drop a piece. You know that your dog is a vacuum cleaner!
Cinnamon (large amounts from sticks, smelling cinnamon oil, and eating can cause everything from skin irritation to liver disease)
Coffee or tea
Cooked bones can choke, break, splinter, tear, or get stuck in your dog’s throat, stomach, or intestines
Garlic, leeks, onions, scallions (can cause a range of symptoms from loss of appetite to increased heart rate resulting in blood transfusions and oxygen therapy)
Grapes and raisins can cause kidney damage or failure
Gravy
Green been casserole (contains mushrooms, onions, and other spices); cooked or raw green beans should be okay.
Mashed potatoes (contains dairy products)
Nutmeg (upset stomach in small amounts; more serious consequences in large amounts from hallucinations to possibly seizures)
Nuts, especially macadamia nuts and walnuts (Peanut butter is okay because it is a legume, not a nut.)
Onions and onion powder in stuffing destroy your dog red blood cells
Potholders
Rich, fatty foods
Spicy sauces
Turkey fat (especially the skin) and bones
Xylitol (found in sugarless gum and candy) (Please read my article on Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs – it’s deadly.) and other artificial sweeteners
Nonfood Thanksgiving Hazards to your Dog
Here are some other things you may not realize that also can harm your dog that are around the house during the holiday season.
Bottle caps
Candles – your dog can come too close and get burned, or he can knock the candles over and cause a fire.
Colored crystals that you burn in the fireplace
Holiday Plants or decorations
Loose cords can choke your dog
Pop tabs
Ribbons
Six-pack beverage holders
Swizzle sticks
Straws
Umbrellas or other accoutrements in mixed drinks
Thanksgiving Visitors and Guests – and your Dog
When greeting guests, your dog should not greet them with you. With everything that is going on, you may forget to watch him, someone may inadvertently forget to close the door, or he can wiggle past your visitors before you realize it. You don’t want to spend your Thanksgiving looking for an escaped dog!
If your dog is normally well behaved, you may ask yourself what’s gotten into him because he’s out of control. A normally calm dog may be nervous, and a normally friendly dog may be shy. Be alert for these stress signals:
Acting afraid or nervous (moving away)
Attention seeking
Cowering
Drooling
Freezing or becoming very still – this is very important because this dog is *almost ready to bite* – especially if he is staring at something.
Whatever he is staring at is his intended target. Interrupt him by standing between him and whatever he is staring at IMMEDIATELY. Don’t yell, but quietly distract and remove him.
Growling (Growling is good – your dog is telling you he is uncomfortable. Never punish a growl because you are taking away the warning! Change the situation.)
Hiding
Jumping or barking more than usual
Pacing
Panting
Raising the fur on his back
Shivering or shaking
Showing the white of his eye
Trying to hide under furniture or escape
Turning his head away
Whining
Yawning or licking his chops
If children are among your guests, tell them to let your dog approach them, even if they know him from previous visits. They should stand still like a tree and let your dog sniff him. The children can pet him ONLY if his tail is wagging and he wants the attention. Remember, NO HUGGING THE DOG – dogs don’t like to be hugged.
DON’T EVER LEAVE CHILDREN AND DOGS UNSUPERVISED, NOT EVEN FOR A SECOND. Yes, I know you have other things to do. BUT even a dog who normally likes children may be so stressed with all the Thanksgiving commotion that he can’t cope and end up biting. If your dog is exhibiting any of the stress signs, separate the children and dogs immediately. It probably would be best at that point to put your dog in his safe-room or crate away from your company or in his crate and to tell the children that they should not bother him for the balance of their visit.
If your guests have medications in their luggage or purses, ask them to close and lock their luggage. With purses, put them in a closet with the door closed so your dog doesn’t go exploring…..
This may seem like a lot to do, but you love your dog and want to protect him or you wouldn’t be reading this article! While I was researching it, I came across things that I had not even considered could be dangerous – and you may have more. Please let me know if you do so I can add them to help others.
I wish you, your family, your dog, and your guests the very best – and the very safest – Thanksgiving!
Thanks for visiting Thanksgiving Dog Safety Tips. I make a small commission on any products or books I recommend.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only. It does not replace a consultation with a dog trainer, dog behavior consultant, or veterinarian and may not be used to diagnose or treat any conditions in your dog.
If you need help with puppy or dog training, we do both private in-person and virtual lessons via Zoom. Please contact us by calling or texting (310) 804-2392 or sending an email to caryl@DoggieManners.com . We look forward to working with you.
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