Can Dogs Eat Christmas Dinner Leftovers?

If you want to share something, keep it plain, cooked, and cut small. Remove skin, fat, bones, and seasoning first, and offer only a spoonful or two. Ask your veterinarian first if your dog has a health condition, food allergies, or a sensitive stomach.

• Plain cooked turkey or chicken breast, with no skin or bones.
• Plain cooked carrots, green beans, or peas.
• Plain boiled or mashed sweet potato, without butter, sugar, or marshmallows.
• Plain cooked potato, with no butter, cream, or garlic.
• A little plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling).

Many classic dishes combine safe ingredients with unsafe ones. The following are best kept away from dogs.

• Turkey skin, fat, gravy, and drippings: high in fat and linked to pancreatitis.
• Cooked bones of any kind: they can splinter and cause injury.
• Stuffing, onions, garlic, leeks, and chives: harmful to red blood cells.
• Grapes, raisins, currants, and Christmas pudding or fruitcake: can cause kidney problems.
• Chocolate, cocoa, and sweets: toxic, and sugar-free versions may contain xylitol.
• Macadamia nuts and other nuts: macadamias are toxic, and nuts are high in fat.
• Alcohol, eggnog, and rum or brandy sauces.
• Cheese boards, especially blue cheeses, which can be harmful in some dogs, and rich cream sauces.
• Salty foods, such as ham and smoked meats, and seasoned roast vegetables.

A dog used to a steady diet can react badly to a sudden rich meal. Fat can inflame the pancreas, a painful condition with vomiting, a hunched posture, and loss of appetite. It can be serious and may need veterinary treatment. Small dogs, and breeds prone to pancreatitis such as miniature schnauzers, are at particular risk.

Too many treats on the day can also lead to diarrhea or an upset stomach. That is why a small, plain portion is better than a plateful of everything.

The simplest way to keep everyone happy is to prepare a small plate of safe food in advance. Cut a little plain turkey breast, a few cooked vegetables, and a spoonful of plain pumpkin, and keep it in the fridge until you are ready. You can serve it at the same time as your own meal.

Tell guests that your dog has their own food. This stops well-meaning people from slipping them scraps, and avoids arguments with children who want to share.

Watch your dog for signs of stomach upset in the 24 to 72 hours after the holiday. Contact your veterinarian if you see repeated vomiting, a painful belly, diarrhea that does not settle, loss of appetite, or unusual tiredness.

Return to your dog's normal diet gradually. If your dog has eaten something risky, call your vet or an animal poison helpline for advice, and do not wait for signs to appear.

Note: The advice here is general. If your dog has a medical condition or special diet, ask your veterinarian what is safe.

Even safe foods are best given in small amounts. As a rough guide, a small dog might have a teaspoon or two of plain turkey and vegetables, a medium dog a tablespoon or two, and a large dog a few tablespoons, but only as an occasional treat on top of their normal meals. A dog who is overweight, or who has a sensitive stomach, may need even less. Ask your veterinarian for advice about your dog, and keep the total of treats to a small share of daily calories.

Pancreatitis is a painful inflammation that can follow a sudden fatty meal, and it is one of the most common holiday emergencies. Signs can appear within a day or two, so watch your dog closely after the holidays.

• Repeated vomiting, or retching.
• A hunched posture, or a tense, painful belly.
• Loss of appetite and lethargy.
• Diarrhea, sometimes with blood.
• Restlessness, or a reluctance to lie down.
• Fever, or dehydration.

Note: Pancreatitis can be serious and needs veterinary treatment. Do not wait for signs to get worse.

Put leftovers in the fridge promptly, in sealed containers, and clear plates from tables and counters. Do not leave a turkey carcass or a cheese board within reach. Take bags out to an outdoor bin with a secure lid. These habits protect your dog, and also protect everyone from food spoilage.