The short answer
- Plain cooked turkey meat: fine as a small treat, without skin, bones, butter or seasoning.
- Raw or undercooked turkey: avoid. The ASPCA warns it may contain Salmonella.
- Turkey bones: dangerous. Cooked bones are brittle and can splinter, block the gut or cause choking.
- Skin and drippings: do not share. The fat can upset the stomach and can lead to pancreatitis.
- Stuffing and gravy: do not share. They usually contain onion and garlic, which are toxic to dogs.
Which parts of the turkey are safe?
| Part or dish | Safe for dogs? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| White or dark meat, plain, fully cooked | Yes, a small amount | Lean protein. Remove skin, bones and seasoning first. |
| Skin | No | Very fatty, usually with butter, oil, salt and spices. |
| Cooked bones (drumstick, wishbone, carcass) | No | Brittle; can splinter, cause choking, blockages or internal injuries. |
| Raw turkey or raw necks | Not without your vet | Risk of Salmonella. Some raw feeders use raw necks, but only with veterinary input. |
| Deli turkey, turkey lunch meat | Better not | Often salty; may contain garlic or onion powder. |
| Stuffing or dressing | No | Usually onion and garlic, plus butter and herbs. |
| Gravy and drippings | No | Fat, salt, bouillon and often onion or garlic. |
| Commercial dog food or treats with turkey | Yes | Made for dogs; feed as the label says. |
Based on the ASPCA's Thanksgiving safety tips and the American Kennel Club's guide to turkey for dogs.
How much turkey can a dog have?
Think of turkey as a treat, not a meal. Treats and extras should make up no more than about 10% of a dog's daily calories, and the regular food should drop to match. For a small dog that is a few bites; for a large dog, a few small pieces. Our dog food calculator shows your dog's daily calories and the 10% treat allowance. Dogs with a sensitive stomach, diabetes or a history of pancreatitis should only get turkey if your vet agrees.
My dog ate a turkey bone: what to do
Cooked poultry bones are the biggest danger at Thanksgiving. The AKC lists injuries to the mouth and tongue, choking, intestinal blockages and rectal bleeding as possible results. Call your vet for advice as soon as you know a bone is missing, even if your dog seems fine.
Watch for these signs over the next few days and call your vet right away if you see any of them:
- Gagging, pawing at the mouth or drooling
- Repeated vomiting or not eating
- A tense or painful belly, lethargy
- Straining to pass stool, no stool, or blood in the stool
Do not make your dog vomit at home unless a vet tells you to: a sharp bone fragment can injure the esophagus on the way back up.
Skin, fat and pancreatitis
The AKC warns that the fat in turkey skin, butter and drippings is risky for dogs and can cause pancreatitis. The Merck Veterinary Manual names dietary indiscretion, such as raiding the leftovers, as a common risk factor for pancreatitis in dogs. Miniature Schnauzers are clearly overrepresented, and Yorkshire Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds and Poodles are also more often affected.
Typical signs are vomiting, not eating, belly pain, weakness and diarrhea. Some dogs stand in a "prayer position" with the front legs down and the rear up. If your dog shows these signs after a fatty meal, call your vet.
Other Thanksgiving dangers for dogs
- Onion and garlic in stuffing, gravy, green bean casserole and dips. Check the amount for your dog's weight with our onion and garlic toxicity calculator.
- Raw bread dough: the ASPCA warns it can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol.
- Desserts: chocolate and sugar-free sweeteners are dangerous. See the chocolate and xylitol calculators.
- Grapes and raisins in salads, stuffing or desserts can harm the kidneys: more on grapes and raisins.
- The trash bag: bones, strings, foil and leftovers. Take it out or keep it behind a closed door.
- Guests' medications: the ASPCA notes these are a common cause of pet poisoning. Keep coats and bags off the floor.
Safe extras for the dog's bowl: a little plain cooked sweet potato, plain green beans or plain pumpkin (not pie filling), all without butter or seasoning. For the full list, see foods dogs can't eat.
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs eat turkey?
Yes, in small amounts. Plain turkey meat that is fully cooked, boneless and skinless, with no butter, salt or seasoning, is fine as an occasional treat. The ASPCA warns that raw or undercooked turkey may carry Salmonella and that poultry bones are a choking hazard. Skin, gravy and stuffing should not be shared.
Can dogs eat turkey bones?
No. Cooked turkey bones are brittle and can splinter. According to the AKC, they can injure the mouth, cause choking, block the intestines or cause rectal bleeding. If your dog ate a turkey bone, call your vet for advice and do not make your dog vomit unless the vet tells you to.
Can dogs eat turkey skin?
No. Turkey skin is full of fat and usually covered in butter, oil, salt and spices. The AKC warns that this fat is risky for dogs and can lead to pancreatitis. Remove the skin before giving your dog a bite of turkey.
Can dogs eat deli turkey or turkey lunch meat?
It is not a good treat. Deli turkey is often salty and can contain garlic or onion powder. A small piece is unlikely to harm a healthy dog, but plain cooked turkey breast is a much better choice. Check the label if your dog ate a lot of it.
Can dogs eat turkey stuffing or gravy?
No. Stuffing and gravy often contain onion and garlic, which the ASPCA lists as toxic to dogs, plus fat and salty broth or bouillon. If your dog ate stuffing or gravy, estimate the onion and garlic amount for your dog's weight and call your vet.
Sources
- ASPCA: Thanksgiving Safety Tips (boneless, fully cooked turkey; Salmonella; poultry bones; onions and garlic; bouillon; raw yeast dough; xylitol; chocolate; guests' medications; trash).
- American Kennel Club: Can Dogs Eat Turkey? (skin and fat, cooked and raw bones, seasonings, stuffing, pancreatitis, portion size).
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats (risk factors, predisposed breeds, clinical signs).
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and Pet Poison Helpline (contact numbers, checked October 2026).
This page is for general information only and does not replace a veterinarian. If your dog ate a turkey bone, stuffing, gravy or a large amount of fatty food, or seems unwell, contact a vet or a pet poison hotline. Last updated: October 2026.