My Dog Ate The Thanksgiving Turkey, What Do I Do?

We’ve all seen the scene from A Christmas Story: Ralphie’s dad leaves out the turkey, and their neighbor’s dogs barge in and make themselves at home. There’s nothing he can do while the Bumpus’ dogs eats the whole turkey, as he watches in horror.

While this is comedic gold, dogs eating the Thanksgiving turkey is nothing to joke about in real life. Sadly, over 24,262 pets were treated over the holidays in 2011 from complications from eating human food (such as the Thanksgiving turkey). Why is turkey in particular so bad for our pet’s health?

The way humans cook turkey is very different than our pets eat it in kibble or treats.

Turkey, as we eat it on Thanksgiving, is usually covered in butter, can have gravy, or even full bones that aren’t removed. For the most part, human food is fattier and not as digestible for pets, which can cause lots of harm to them. Any shock to a pet’s digestive system can lead to expensive vet bills for you!

Splintering turkey bones can lodge in your pet's throat or digestive tract.

Cooked turkey bones are also prone to splinter, such as when the family “wishbone” tradition is taking place. If this splintering occurs in our pet’s digestive tract or throat, it can cost thousands in emergency veterinarian bills.

If your pet has stolen a bite of Thanksgiving turkey, or a family member has been feeding them scraps under the table, monitor your pet for the following signs: diarrhea, vomiting, fever, low energy, difficulty breathing, and bleeding. If you see any of these symptoms, contact a veterinarian immediately.