A Thanksgiving Plan for the Dog: Approved Treats for Guests, a Chew for Dinnertime, and Meals on Schedule

To a dog, Thanksgiving is a day of doorbells, new laps, dropped rolls, and a counter that smells better than anything all year. It's also a day when a lot of well-meaning guests try to share their plate. A little planning keeps the dog happy and out of the emergency vet's waiting room: treats your guests are allowed to give, something to chew while everyone eats, and meals that stay on schedule. Here's a simple plan built around four products already on Best Items.

The four picks

Milk-Bone Original Biscuits Large Dog Treats (10 lb) are the treats guests can hand out. Per the listing, they're crunchy biscuits fortified with vitamins and minerals, and the 10-pound box holds 100-plus large biscuits. Catalog rating: 4.8 / 5.0.

Pedigree Dentastix Large Breed Dental Dog Treats (Variety Pack, 51 Count) are the dinnertime chew for big dogs. The listing describes a chewy, X-shaped treat that helps reduce tartar and freshen breath, sized for dogs over 30 pounds. Catalog rating: 4.8 / 5.0.

Minties Mint Dental Chews for Dogs (Small Dogs 5-25 lbs, 40 Count) are the small-dog version of that job. The listing describes chews shaped and textured to help clean teeth and control tartar, with breath fresheners such as parsley, dill, and peppermint. Catalog rating: 4.4 / 5.0.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Chicken & Brown Rice Adult Dry Dog Food (5 lb) is for keeping regular meals regular. Real chicken is the first ingredient, with brown rice, barley, and oatmeal. Catalog rating: 4.7 / 5.0.

Prices on the site update daily, so check each product page for the current price.

Know what stays off the dog's plate

The ASPCA and most vets warn about the same Thanksgiving foods every year. Cooked bones (turkey bones splinter), fatty turkey skin and drippings, gravy, and buttery sides can upset a dog's stomach and have been linked to pancreatitis. Onions, garlic, leeks, and chives, which are in a lot of stuffing, are toxic to dogs. So are grapes and raisins, chocolate, and xylitol, a sweetener found in some sugar-free desserts and peanut butters. Raw bread dough is dangerous too. The garbage bag full of turkey carcass and foil is the single biggest temptation in the house, so take it straight outside to a lidded can.

If your dog does eat something it shouldn't, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) right away rather than waiting to see what happens.

Give guests a treat jar instead of a rule list

Telling a room full of relatives “please don't feed the dog” rarely works. Giving them something they're allowed to feed the dog does. Put a jar of biscuits by the front door or on the kitchen counter, and tell guests that's the dog's menu. Ask them to have the dog sit first, which turns a mobbing into good manners. Decide on a daily number beforehand and count out that many biscuits, so a dozen generous guests don't add up to a dozen treats. A common rule of thumb is to keep treats to about a tenth of a dog's daily calories, and the feeding guide on the box is the place to check.

A chew for the hour you sit down to eat

The hardest part of the day is the meal itself, when the dog is at nose level with the table. Set the dog up somewhere comfortable, a crate, a bed in a quieter room, or behind a baby gate, and give it a dental chew right as everyone sits down. Match the chew to the dog's size: Dentastix Large for dogs over 30 pounds and Minties for small dogs from 5 to 25 pounds, following the feeding guidance on each package. Supervise chewing, and remove any piece small enough to be swallowed whole. Count the chew as part of the day's treats.

If your dog is anxious around crowds, a quiet room with its own bed, water, and some background noise is a kinder place to spend the afternoon than in the middle of the party.

Keep meals on schedule

On a day with a lot going on, the easiest thing to keep normal is dinner. Feed the dog's regular food at the regular times, before your own meal if you can, so it's not watching the table on an empty stomach. Don't switch foods for the holiday. If you're moving to a new food, such as Blue Buffalo, do it gradually over about a week, mixing increasing amounts with the old food, and start after the holiday rather than during it. If the dog is traveling with you, pack enough of its usual food for the whole trip.

Doors, coats, and the walk

Guests coming and going are how dogs get out. Put a note on the front door, keep the dog behind a gate or leashed during arrivals, and make sure its collar has current ID tags and its microchip registration is up to date. A long walk before guests arrive takes the edge off a lot of excitement. If guests' bags or coats are piled on a bed, keep that room closed: purses hold medication, sugar-free gum, and chocolate.

Who this plan is for

It's a good fit if you're hosting with a dog in the house, bringing your dog to someone else's Thanksgiving, or have relatives who show love with food. Adjust it if your dog has allergies, a sensitive stomach, dental problems, or a prescription diet (ask your vet which treats and chews fit), or it's a puppy or a very small dog that needs smaller treats than these.

The bottom line

A calm Thanksgiving for the dog comes from a jar of Milk-Bone biscuits guests are allowed to share, a size-matched dental chew (Pedigree Dentastix Large or Minties) for the hour you eat, and its usual Blue Buffalo or other regular food at the usual time. Keep the bones, onions, and the trash out of reach, check each product page for the current price, and save the dog a spot on the couch for the nap afterward.