Why
Plain cooked turkey meat is a lean source of protein and is used in many dog foods. The AKC notes that it also provides riboflavin and phosphorus. A few small pieces of white or dark meat with nothing added are unlikely to cause problems for a healthy dog.
The holiday version is the problem. Roast turkey skin holds a lot of fat, plus the butter, oil and seasoning used for roasting, and fatty food can trigger stomach upset and pancreatitis. Stuffing and gravy often contain onion and garlic, which damage red blood cells. Cooked turkey bones are brittle and can splinter.
Risks to watch for
- Cooked bones, which can splinter, cause choking or block the gut
- Skin, drippings and fat trimmings
- Stuffing, gravy and seasoning rubs made with onion or garlic
- Raw or undercooked turkey, which can carry Salmonella
- Cooking string, roasting bags and pop-up timers
- Vomiting, belly pain or diarrhea after a fatty meal
How to share safely
- Set aside a few pieces of plain meat before any skin, butter, gravy or seasoning touches it.
- Remove every bone and cut the meat into small pieces.
- Serve it on its own or mixed into your dog's usual food, not as a plate of leftovers.
- Plain ground turkey cooked through with no oil or seasoning works as an everyday alternative.
How much?
A small dog can have a few bite-sized pieces of turkey and a large dog a small handful, counted within the daily treat allowance.
Why are cooked turkey bones so risky?
Cooking makes poultry bones dry and brittle. When a dog chews them they break into sharp pieces that can injure the mouth, lodge in the throat, or get stuck in the stomach or intestines. The AKC warns that these blockages can need emergency surgery. Raw turkey bones are not a safe swap either, because raw poultry can carry bacteria such as Salmonella.
If your dog has already swallowed a bone, do not try to make it vomit, since sharp pieces can do more damage on the way back up. Call your vet for advice, and watch closely over the next few days for:
- Gagging, retching or pawing at the mouth
- Repeated vomiting or refusing food
- A hunched posture or a sore, tense belly
- Straining to pass stool, or blood in the stool
- Unusual tiredness
Skin, drippings and the pancreatitis risk
Turkey skin is where the fat, butter and seasoning end up, and the pan drippings used for gravy are almost pure fat. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes pancreatitis as the most common disease of the digestive part of the pancreas in dogs and cats, and it lists eating unusual or inappropriate food, which vets call dietary indiscretion, as a common risk factor in dogs. Miniature Schnauzers are one of the breeds seen with it more often.
Signs can include loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness, belly pain, dehydration and diarrhea, and milder cases may only look like a quiet dog that is off its food. If your dog shows these after a holiday meal, call your vet. Dogs that have had pancreatitis before should skip rich scraps entirely.
The carving board, the string and the trash bag
A roasted turkey leaves behind plenty of things that smell like food but are not. Cooking twine soaked in juices, the plastic pop-up timer, foil, roasting bags and the absorbent pad from the meat tray can all be swallowed. String and similar long items are especially dangerous, because they can bunch up the intestines as they pass through.
Put the carcass, bones and wrappings in a bag, tie it off and take it straight outside to a bin with a secure lid. Brined turkey is also salty, and a dog that raids a pan of brine or drippings may drink a lot of water or vomit. Wash your hands and any surfaces after handling raw turkey, and keep your dog away from the counter while you work.
Common questions
Is turkey good for dogs?
Only in limited ways. Plain cooked turkey meat is a lean source of protein and is used in many dog foods. The AKC notes that it also provides riboflavin and phosphorus.
Is turkey bad for dogs?
It can be. Risks to watch for: cooked bones, which can splinter, cause choking or block the gut; skin, drippings and fat trimmings.
Are dogs allowed to have turkey?
Only in small amounts and the right form. Set aside a few pieces of plain meat before any skin, butter, gravy or seasoning touches it.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats.
- ASPCA. Thanksgiving Safety Tips.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Toxicology section.
- American Kennel Club (AKC). “Can Dogs Eat…?” article series.
If your dog has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away. Do not wait for symptoms. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).