SEATTLE — Thanksgiving is all about spending time with family and friends, and that doesn’t exclude the dog! And while Thanksgiving is one of the more delicious times of year, you have to be careful what you allow your four-legged family member to eat from the table.

To make sure you don’t end up spending family time at the vet ER on Thursday, the American Kennel Club (AKC) shared some do’s and don’ts for a happy and hearty Thanksgiving feast.

Check the list of foods below that are safe for dogs before you slip something under the table for Fido on Thanksgiving:

Safe Thanksgiving foods for dogs

Sweet potatoes

Starting off strong with the sides, sweet potatoes are a great source of deliciousness and goodness for your bestie.

According to the AKC, “sweet potato treats can be as simple as a dehydrated sweet potato chew.” However, if you have plain mashed sweet potatoes on the table, that’s a fine option, too.

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Just make sure you don’t give your pet sweet potatoes with that extra goodness such as brown sugar, marshmallows, or maple syrup.

Potatoes

If your dog loves sneaking up and stealing your fries or chips, you already know they can have potatoes. However, for the holiday meal, try a healthier option with your dog such as a boiled or baked potato.

If you can’t resist eating creamy mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving Day with extra butter and cream, and onions or garlic for that extra flavor, save that for your own plate, not the dog’s.

Apples

If you know the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” it also applies to your best friend!

A healthy Thanksgiving treat, make sure you cut the apple for Fido the way you’d eat an apple; anything but the core and seeds. If you want something a little fancier for your dog, an apple-cinnamon dog cookie will do the trick too, but keep the apple pies away from your dog!

Turkey meat

Turkey, the core of the Thanksgiving meal. If you’re wondering if your dog can enjoy the main entree, the AKC said yes. However, there are some restrictions.

The AKC add that turkey meat is OK as long as it isn’t prepared with any seasoning, unfortunately ruling out the bird you worked hours on.

The AKC stressed that owners should skip feeding the dogs turkey bones and turkey skin. The bones could splinter and the skin, slathered in butter or oil before cooking, could trigger a bout of dangerous and painful pancreatitis or other digestive issues for your dog.

If you want to share turkey with your dog without worrying about preparing a separate dog-safe portion, be on the lookout for Thanksgiving-themed canned dog food.

Green beans

If you’re planning on making green bean casserole, save a couple for the dog! Good ole plain green beans are great for dogs to help them get their veggie intake.

Plain peas

If your dog loves the occasional “accidental” spill of peas on the ground (sorry mom), don’t worry! They’re safe and a fine addition to a dog’s diet in moderation. However, creamed peas are a no-no, just like creamy mashed potatoes.

Any fatty food or casserole risks triggering pancreatitis or other digestive upsets, the AKC states.

Pumpkin

Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without anything pumpkin! So lucky for your dog, pumpkin is a great healthy snack for dog’s digestive health and their skin and coat. If you feed your dog canned pumpkin, make sure it’s just pure pumpkin puree and not the pumpkin pie mix.

Dessert

No feast is complete without dessert, but since your dog can’t have apple or pumpkin pie, whatever sweet treat you share with your dog most likely needs to be just for them.

The AKC recommends offering some plain yogurt (make sure you read the label and look for xylitol, which can be fatal for dogs) blended with pumpkin puree, a healthy and festive treat! But if you’re extra, you can also find pumpkin dog cookies to share a sweet treat.

Avoid these Thanksgiving foods for dogs

According to the AKC, the Thanksgiving holiday coincides with a rise in emergency vet visits across the U.S., due to the extra, and more often unsafe “human” foods that dogs end of eating.

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To prepare for a dog-safe Thanksgiving, here’s common Thanksgiving foods that you should avoid giving your dog:

• Turkey bones, skin, and gravy
• Stuffing
• Casseroles
• Mashed potatoes
• Creamed peas
• Chocolate, cookies, pies, and sweets (as well as anything “sugar-free” or containing xylitol, which can be fatal for dogs)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Raisins and grapes
• Onions, scallions, and garlic
• Ham
• Yeast dough
• Fatty foods
• Foods containing spices

With all that said, even if you’re feeding your pet healthy food, make sure to feed your pet in moderation. Although we gobble up our feast like turkeys on Thanksgiving, make sure your dog isn’t wobbling after gobbling!

Also keep in mind to secure your trash properly once the meal is over to make sure your dog can’t get into it.

If your dog does get into something that they shouldn’t eat, the AKC recommends contacting the Pet Poison Helpline or calling your local emergency vet that offers weekend and after-hours services in the event of an emergency.