Food safety
Can Dogs Eat Cranberry Sauce? Not Really: Sugar and Extras
No, cranberry sauce is not a good treat for dogs: it is mostly sugar, and some homemade and gourmet recipes add raisins, currants, alcohol or nuts that can poison dogs. A lick of plain canned sauce is unlikely to cause harm, but plain cranberries are the better way to share. If your dog ate sauce with raisins or liquor, call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. A fee may apply.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read3 sources
Why cranberry sauce is a poor choice
Cranberries themselves are safe for dogs in small amounts, and the AKC lists fresh or frozen unsweetened cranberries among fruits dogs can have. Cranberry sauce is a different food. To balance the tart berries, a typical can or recipe adds a lot of sugar or corn syrup.
Sugar does not poison dogs, but a sudden sweet, rich food often causes vomiting and diarrhea, and regular sugary extras add calories that lead to weight gain. The AKC notes that cranberry sauce is high in sugar and can upset a dog's stomach.
Spreading a few safe pieces across a snuffle mat or packing them into a puzzle toy turns a small treat into a few minutes of sniffing work.
The ingredients that can be dangerous
Read the recipe or label. Some cranberry sauces and relishes include raisins or currants, which the ASPCA warns can cause kidney damage in dogs. Others are made with brandy, port, orange liqueur or bourbon, and alcohol is dangerous for dogs even in small amounts. Walnuts, pecans and macadamia nuts also appear in festive versions.
Sugar-free or low-sugar sauces may use xylitol, which can cause a life-threatening drop in blood sugar in dogs. Cranberry and grape juice blends and some cranberry chutneys bring grape. If any of these were in what your dog ate, call your vet or one of the poison lines above now, without waiting for signs.
If your dog ate cranberry sauce
Plain canned jellied or whole-berry sauce with no raisins, alcohol, nuts or xylitol: offer water and watch for vomiting or diarrhea over the next day. Most dogs are fine after a lick or a spoonful. A large dog that ate a whole can may still get an upset stomach.
Homemade or gourmet sauce: find the recipe or label and check for raisins, currants, grapes, alcohol, nuts and xylitol. If any were included, or you are not sure, call your vet or a poison line, tell them roughly how much was eaten and your dog's weight, and follow their advice.
Thanksgiving and Christmas safety
Holiday dinners put cranberry sauce next to the foods that cause the most trouble for dogs: turkey skin and gravy, which are fatty, cooked bones that splinter, stuffing made with onion and garlic, and desserts with chocolate, raisins or xylitol. Serve your dog's dinner separately, and ask guests not to slip scraps under the table.
Clear plates promptly, keep the trash can lidded, and put leftovers straight into the fridge. A short walk or a stuffed chew toy during the meal keeps a begging dog busy and away from the table edge.
Puppies, signs of trouble and when to call
Puppies should not have cranberry sauce. Their stomachs react more strongly to sugar and rich food, and their small size means any raisin or alcohol exposure is more serious.
Call your vet the same day if your dog vomits repeatedly, has diarrhea for more than a day, seems weak, wobbly or very sleepy, drinks or pees much more or less than usual, or ate sauce containing raisins, alcohol, macadamia nuts or xylitol. Wobbliness or collapse is an emergency.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can dogs eat canned cranberry sauce?
A lick of plain canned cranberry sauce is unlikely to harm a healthy dog, but it is very high in sugar and can cause stomach upset. Check the label for xylitol and offer plain cranberries instead.
Is cranberry sauce toxic to dogs?
Plain cranberry sauce is not toxic, but it is not a healthy treat. Recipes that include raisins, currants, alcohol or macadamia nuts can poison dogs and need a call to your vet or a poison line.
Can dogs eat jellied cranberry sauce?
Jellied cranberry sauce is mostly sugar or corn syrup. A small taste will not usually cause harm, but it offers nothing a dog needs and can bring on vomiting or diarrhea if your dog eats a lot.
Can dogs eat Thanksgiving leftovers?
Plain, skinless, boneless turkey and plain cooked vegetables are fine in small amounts. Skip gravy, stuffing, casseroles, cranberry sauce and desserts, which carry fat, sugar, onion, garlic and other risks.
Can dogs eat cranberry relish?
Cranberry relish often includes orange peel, sugar and nuts, and sometimes liqueur. It is best avoided. If your dog ate relish containing alcohol or nuts, call your vet for advice.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
