Most people either let their dog “clean the plate” after dinner, or they panic and give their dog nothing at all.
Neither is ideal.
Dogs don’t need leftovers. They need their own plate made with foods that support digestion, don’t overload fat, and don’t trigger blood sugar spikes or stomach irritation.
Below is the full deep-dive into every ingredient and why it belongs — or doesn’t — on your pup’s holiday plate.
YES TO SHARE (Plain Only)
White Turkey Meat (No skin, no bones)
Lean protein, low fat, easy to digest, and perfect for a holiday meal. Skin and dark meat contain enough fat to trigger pancreatitis — just remove the skin and stick to white meat.
Sweet Potato
Rich in soluble fiber, which helps stabilize digestion. But skip mashed potatoes — they’re not the same thing. Sweet potatoes are genuinely nutritious; white potatoes spike blood sugar.
Pumpkin or Squash
These are gentle, hydrating, and supportive for digestion. Pumpkin is NOT a magical cure, but it does contribute mild fiber and nourishment.
Carrots + Celery
Low-calorie, low-sugar vegetable options. Easy, safe, and crunchy — but not nutritionally essential.
Blueberries (Raw Only, Small Amounts)
Antioxidant-rich but still a fruit… which means sugar. Give sparingly. Never cooked (cooking intensifies sugar).
Flaxseed Meal
This is your secret weapon. Dogs NEED a fiber element if you’re adding human food. Pumpkin is not enough.
Flax adds soluble fiber and omega-3s, supports digestion, and doesn’t alter taste or texture.
Quinoa
A super clean carbohydrate that provides gentle energy and amino acids.
Rolled Oats
Calming on digestion and useful when dogs are sensitive to rich foods.
NO, THESE DON’T BELONG ON THE DOG PLATE
Dark Meat & Skin
High fat = highest risk of pancreatitis. One bad episode can sensitize them for life.
Gravy
A mix of fat, flour, salt, and seasoning, the worst combination for canine digestion.
Stuffing
Onions, garlic, herbs, bread, butter, a layered NO from every angle.
Ham / Pork
Extremely fatty + extremely salty. A perfect storm for digestive fallout.
Mashed Potatoes
Butter, cream, salt, none of which help your dog.
Corn
Beloved by humans, nutritionally worthless for dogs. Mostly indigestible. Often passes unchanged.
Apples
High sugar, minimal benefit, rough on blood sugar regulation.
Bananas (Ripe)
As bananas ripen, the sugars skyrocket. Under-ripe is okay, ripe is basically dessert.
Whole Cranberries
Very acidic. Hard on digestion. Most dogs spit them out anyway.
Cranberry Sauce
Straight sugar with a holiday costume on.
Cheese / Dairy
Heavy, mucous-forming, high fat, high lactose, all of which upset the gut.
Butter
Pure fat.
Onions
Toxic to dogs in all forms.
Cooked Berries
Cooking concentrates sugar content dramatically.
Bones (Any kind)
Splinter risk, obstruction risk, and always an emergency waiting to happen.
Anything Seasoned
Salt, spices, brines, marinades, holiday food is dressed up for humans, not dogs.
PREPARE SEPARATELY (Plain, No Seasonings)
These are foods that can be shared IF you cook or serve them without: salt, sugar, oil, spices, butter, or glazes.
- Sweet potato
- Pumpkin
- Squash
- Blueberries
- Quinoa
- Oats
This is how you let your dog share in the holiday without sharing the digestive consequences.
The Takeaway
Dogs can absolutely enjoy Thanksgiving , just not our leftovers.
Build them a plate with intention.
Keep digestion safe.
Skip the sugar, salt, fat, and dairy.
And ALWAYS remove bones.
Inside the Dog Divas app, you’ll find the printable list AND a sample Thanksgiving dog plate layout to make serving simple and stress-free.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your pup. 🐾