11 Thanksgiving Foods You Should Never Feed Your Dog

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, which means quality time spent with family, friends, and all of your favorite foods—not to mention the post-meal nap, followed by second helpings of everything. Although you can enjoy as much stuffing and pumpkin pie as your heart desires, the same can’t be said of your dog.

We know, we know—when your four-legged friend gives you that look with those eyes, it’s hard to say No. Although some Thanksgiving foods are dog-friendly, some aren’t and can potentially be toxic.

Don’t want to spend your Thanksgiving vacation at the vet’s office? Don’t feed your dog these 10 common Thanksgiving foods:

Cooked bones. Make no bones about it, these are not safe for your dog. Not only can they hurt your dog’s digestive tract, they are also a choke risk. Want to give your dog a bone for Thanksgiving? Stick to the uncooked ones from the pet store.

Turkey skin. Turkey skin is high in fat, but it also has several ingredients that are tough for your dog to digest and can lead to pancreatitis and stomach upset.

Canned cranberry sauce. Although cranberries are dog-friendly, the canned stuff is high in sugar and contains raisins. Did you know that raisins can lead to kidney failure in dogs?

Nuts. Some nuts, particularly walnuts and macadamia nuts, are highly toxic to dogs and can lead to something called “macadamia nut toxicosis.” Do not feed nuts to your dog.

Nutmeg. Did you know that nutmeg can cause your dog to have seizures and lead to major nervous system problems? In some cases, it an even be fatal. Avoid feeding your dog foods that might contain nutmeg, including sweet potato casseroles and pumpkin pie.

Sage. Sage is not easy on your pup’s stomach, so unless you want to cause stomach upset, don’t feed them any foods with this herb in it.

Green bean casserole. Green beans can be a healthy treat for your dog, but the mushrooms and fried onions found in green bean casserole? Not so much.

Mashed potatoes. Who doesn’t love mashed potatoes? Well, your dog’s digestive system, for one. Mashed potatoes typically contain ingredients like butter, gravy and sour cream that can lead to severe stomach upset in canines. Want to share with your dog? Give them a bite of the potatoes plain before you start mixing!

Artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners aren’t great for us, so it’s no surprise that they aren’t great for your dog. In fact, they contain ingredients that can be deadly to your four-legged friend.

Chocolate. Well, we all know this one!

Dough/Batter. When a dog eats dough, the dough rises in your dog’s warm stomach, just as it does in the oven. Plus, it contains raw eggs, which might contain salmonella. Be safe, and avoid feeding your dog dough and batter.

Just as you make an effort to protect your own health, do the same for your dog. If you really want to treat your dog to something special this Thanksgiving, treat them to a post-meal walk on a new route or invite them on the couch for a long nap. After all, what more do they really want than a belly run and to be the center of your attention? Happy Thanksgiving, to everyone in your family!