Thanksgiving With Dogs: What’s Safe, What’s Not, and How to Keep the Chaos Down

Thanksgiving With Dogs: What’s Safe, What’s Not, and How to Keep the Chaos Down 

Thanksgiving is hands down one of the best holidays with food everywhere, people everywhere, the whole house buzzing. The only problem? Your dog may think they’ve been personally invited to the buffet. And honestly… can you blame them? 

But with all the excitement and people, it’s way too easy for dogs to get into things they shouldn’t… or get overwhelmed by the chaos of the day. 

Let’s break down what’s actually safe for dogs, what’s absolutely NOT safe (lookin’ at you, cooked bones), and how to keep your dog calm, happy, and included without a 2 a.m. blow out or emergency vet visit. 

Safe Thanksgiving Foods for Dogs (In SMALL, boring portions) 

These foods are safe as long as they’re unseasoned, not buttery, not sugary, and not part of your grandma’s secret recipe that contains 47 mystery ingredients: 

✔ Turkey meat — plain, no skin, no seasoning 
The meat is great. The skin? Loaded with fat and spices. Skip it. 

✔ Pumpkin (plain) 
Great for digestion. Pumpkin pie filling does NOT count. 

✔ Sweet potatoes — plain, cooked 
No marshmallows. No brown sugar. No candied anything. 

✔ Green beans — plain 
If it’s in a casserole, it’s no longer a vegetable… it’s a potential tummy ache. 

✔ Apples or applesauce — no added sugar, no seeds 
A nice crunch or spoonful, but not the pie version. 

Foods Your Dog Should NOT Touch (No “holiday rule-breaking” here) 

These can cause vomiting, pancreatitis, toxicity, blockages… basically all the vet bills you don’t want right now, especially since its a holiday and emergency vet prices come to play: 

✘ Cooked bones (all of them) 
Yes, even turkey bones. ESPECIALLY turkey bones. 
They splinter like glass. Hard stop. The answer is no. 

✘ Stuffing 
Onions, garlic, spices… it’s a digestive nightmare. 

✘ Gravy 
Delicious for us, pancreatitis-in-a-bowl for dogs. 

✘ Turkey skin 
Greasy + seasoned = No thanks. 

✘ Mashed potatoes with butter, sour cream, or garlic 
That’s basically a dairy bomb. 

✘ Anything with xylitol, chocolate, raisins, grapes, alcohol 
If you're thinking “Does this count?” — Yes. It counts. 

Holiday Chaos: Why Some Dogs Just… Can’t 

The doorbell. The people. The smells. The food within reach of every snout. 

It’s sensory overload. Some dogs greet Thanksgiving like it’s the best day of their lives. Others? They’d rather be literally anywhere else. If your dog is the “I’ll be hiding now, thanks” type, or they get a little too wound up, it’s totally okay (and actually kind of ideal) to set up a quiet room where they can decompress. 

Think of it like a doggie spa day… without the bath. 

Helping Your Dog Relax With Stashios 

If your dog needs a calm retreat during your family’s annual chaos-fest, here are two Stashios MVPs that make the day go smoother: 

 Soothing Saucer™ + Soothing Sauce™ 

Perfect for dogs who need their own quiet zone, these two together create an enrichment activity that keeps them busy AND relaxed. Licking helps lower stress, and the Saucer keeps them engaged without the frantic “OMG EVERYONE IS HERE” energy. The sauce is packed with a calming blend of herbs to help take the edge off.  

Set them up in a bedroom or cozy corner away from the noise, turn on some music or white noise, and let them enjoy their quiet Thanksgiving moment. 

Magic Mix: The Ultimate Dog-Friendly Holiday Treat 

You’re cooking, baking, basting… the dog deserves a special holiday treat too. 

Magic Mix is your “I didn’t know it could do all that” moment: 

It’s insanely easy and ridiculously fun. And your dog will feel like they got their own plate at Thanksgiving dinner minus all the risky ingredients. 

(And yes… your relatives will definitely ask what it is and why it smells so good.) 

Final Thoughts 

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be stressful for your dog, or for you. With a little prep, a quiet retreat space, and a few Stashios favorites, your dog can enjoy the holiday without the chaos… and without begging at the table like they haven’t eaten in 400 days. 

Here’s to a safe, happy, tail-waggy Thanksgiving. 🦃💛 

Stephanie Beetsch CCN, CYNX-L