Health & Safety

Christmas dangers for dogs: the foods, plants and decorations to keep out of reach

The festive foods, plants and decorations that harm dogs, and how to plan a calm, safe Christmas.

By 6 min read
Two dogs licking frozen treat cups under warm string lights

Christmas in Europe is a feast for the nose. There is stollen on the counter in Dresden, panettone on the table in Milan, a tin of chocolates beside the sofa in Dublin and a turkey resting in kitchens almost everywhere. To your dog, all of it smells like an invitation. Some of it can make them very ill.

Here are the festive foods, plants and decorations that cause the most trouble, and what to do if something goes wrong while your usual vet is closed.

The biggest Christmas dangers for dogs are chocolate, anything with raisins, sultanas or currants (stollen, panettone, mince pies, Christmas pudding), alcohol, onion and garlic in stuffing and gravy, xylitol, macadamia nuts and cooked turkey bones. Mistletoe, holly and poinsettia can upset your dog's stomach, and swallowed tinsel can block the gut. If your dog eats something risky, call a vet straight away.

Which Christmas foods are dangerous for dogs?

Chocolate, dried vine fruit, alcohol, onion, garlic, xylitol, macadamia nuts and cooked bones are the main festive food dangers. Many traditional European bakes contain several of these at once, which is why the Christmas table needs extra care.

Festive foodWhy it is a problem for dogs
Chocolate, including chocolate-coated lebkuchen, Advent calendars and selection tinsContains theobromine, which dogs cannot break down well. Dark and baking chocolate are the most dangerous.
Stollen, panettone, mince pies, Christmas pudding and Christmas cakeRaisins, sultanas and currants can cause kidney damage, even in small amounts. Puddings and cakes often contain alcohol as well.
Stuffing, gravy and saucesOften made with onion, garlic, leeks or chives, which can damage a dog's red blood cells.
Sugar-free sweets, chewing gum and some baked goodsMay contain xylitol, a sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs.
Bowls of mixed nutsMacadamia nuts are toxic to dogs. Other nuts are salty, fatty and a choking risk.
Mulled wine, eggnog, liqueurs and beerAlcohol is dangerous for dogs, even in small amounts.
Cooked turkey, goose or ham bonesCooked bones can splinter and cause choking, mouth injuries or a blocked gut.
Fatty leftovers: turkey skin, crackling, roast fat, rich cheese boardsCan cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and in some dogs a painful inflammation of the pancreas called pancreatitis.

Wrapped presents count too. A dog can sniff out chocolates under the tree long before Christmas morning, so keep edible gifts on a high shelf.

Can dogs eat any of the Christmas dinner?

Yes, a small plate of plain food is fine for most healthy dogs. Plain cooked turkey breast with no skin, bones or seasoning, and a few plain vegetables, make a festive treat your dog can safely share.

Keep the portion small and take it out of their usual dinner. Leave out the gravy, stuffing, roast potatoes and anything served with a sauce.

Safe in small amounts

  • Plain cooked turkey breast, no skin or bones
  • Plain boiled carrots, green beans or parsnips
  • A little plain boiled potato, no butter or salt
  • A frozen toy filled with their usual food

Keep away from your dog

  • Stollen, panettone, mince pies and Christmas pudding
  • Chocolate in any form
  • Stuffing, gravy and sauces
  • Cooked bones and turkey skin
  • Cheese boards, crackling and rich leftovers
  • Alcohol and half-finished drinks

Freezbone tip

Give your dog their own Christmas dinner. Pack a frozen toy with some of their usual food and a spoonful of plain turkey, and hand it over just as the family sits down to eat. A dog busy licking is a dog not begging under the table. For more ideas, see our festive frozen dog treats and the Freezbone recipe videos.

Which Christmas plants are poisonous to dogs?

Mistletoe, holly and poinsettia are the festive plants to keep out of reach. Most cause stomach upset rather than serious poisoning, but mistletoe can be more harmful if a dog eats a lot of it.

  • Mistletoe: the berries and leaves can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and drooling. Hang it high and pick up any berries that drop.
  • Holly: the spiky leaves and red berries can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and a sore mouth.
  • Poinsettia: the milky sap can irritate the mouth and stomach. Reactions are usually mild, but keep the pot out of reach anyway.
  • The Christmas tree: pine and fir needles are sharp and can upset the stomach if eaten. The water in the tree stand can hold sap, bacteria or additives, so cover it.

Are Christmas decorations safe for dogs?

Most decorations are only dangerous if your dog chews or swallows them, so where you put them matters most. Puppies and young dogs are the most likely to treat the tree as a giant new toy.

  • Tinsel and ribbon can tangle in the gut if swallowed and may need surgery to remove.
  • Glass baubles shatter into sharp pieces. Hang unbreakable ones on the lower branches.
  • Fairy lights and cables can cause burns or electric shocks if chewed. Tidy cables away and switch the lights off when you go out.
  • Salt dough ornaments contain a lot of salt, which is dangerous if eaten.
  • Batteries from new toys and gadgets can cause serious internal burns if chewed or swallowed.
  • Candles and Advent wreaths can be knocked over by a wagging tail. Never leave them burning in a room alone with your dog.

Fix the tree firmly so it cannot topple.

How can I keep my dog calm over the holidays?

Keep your dog's daily routine as close to normal as you can, and give them a quiet place away from the crowd. Visitors, rustling paper, cooking smells and late nights add up, even for confident dogs.

  • Keep walks and mealtimes near their usual times, including on Christmas Day.
  • Set up a quiet room or crate with water and a bed, away from the party.
  • Ask guests, especially children, not to feed your dog from their plates.
  • Take extra care at the front door while visitors come and go.

A frozen toy handed over as the doorbell starts ringing gives your dog something calm to do in their quiet spot.

“Love it, kept my dogs busy and quiet for 20 minutes!”
Bethany R., verified buyer

New Year's Eve follows quickly, with fireworks across much of Europe. Our New Year's Eve fireworks plan for dogs covers the noise, and our ideas for indoor enrichment on short winter days help with the quieter days in between.

What should I do if my dog eats something dangerous at Christmas?

Call a vet straight away, even if your dog seems fine. Many poisonings, including chocolate and raisins, are easier to treat when caught early, before any signs appear.

1. Act fast

  • Move your dog away from the food
  • Do not try to make your dog sick unless a vet tells you to
  • Keep the wrapper or packaging

2. Phone a vet

  • Call your own vet or the local out-of-hours emergency clinic
  • Say what was eaten, roughly how much and when
  • Give your dog's weight

3. Follow their advice

  • Go in if they ask you to
  • Take the packaging with you
  • Drive carefully, as roads can be busy and icy

4. Plan ahead

  • Save the out-of-hours number in your phone before the holidays
  • Check opening times for 24, 25 and 26 December and 1 January
  • Know the route to the emergency clinic

Many clinics close or run reduced hours between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, including 26 December, St Stephen's Day in Ireland and a public holiday in many other European countries. Emergency cover varies by country and region, so find out now who to call.

Call an emergency vet immediately if you notice any of these signs:

  • Vomiting or diarrhoea, especially with blood
  • Restlessness, trembling, a racing heart or seizures
  • Drinking or weeing much more or less than usual
  • A swollen, painful belly, or retching with nothing coming up
  • Weakness, collapse or pale gums

Driving to family in another country this Christmas? Our guide to travelling in Europe with your dog covers pet passports, planning and packing.

With the chocolate up high, the bones in a closed outdoor bin and a frozen toy waiting in the freezer, your dog can enjoy Christmas almost as much as you do.

General information, not veterinary advice. If you're worried about your dog, talk to your vet.

Frequently asked questions

  • No. Stollen and panettone usually contain raisins, sultanas or currants, which can cause kidney damage in dogs even in small amounts, and some versions also contain chocolate or alcohol. If your dog eats some, call your vet straight away rather than waiting for signs.

  • No. Cooked bones become brittle and can splinter, causing choking, mouth injuries or a blocked gut. Wrap the carcass and any bones and put them straight into an outdoor bin with a secure lid.

  • It is best avoided. Turkey skin is fatty and usually seasoned, and fatty food can cause vomiting, diarrhoea or pancreatitis in some dogs. A small portion of plain, skinless turkey breast is a safer festive treat.

  • Poinsettia sap can irritate a dog's mouth and stomach, usually causing drooling or mild vomiting. Serious poisoning is uncommon. Keep the plant out of reach and call your vet if your dog eats a lot of it or seems unwell.

  • It depends on the type of chocolate and the size of your dog, and dark and baking chocolate are the most dangerous. Because even a small amount can be harmful to a small dog, call your vet whenever your dog eats chocolate. Have the wrapper ready so you can say what type it was.

  • Plain cooked turkey breast, plain carrots or green beans, and a frozen toy filled with their usual food are all good festive options. Keep treats small and reduce their dinner to match, so the extra food does not upset their stomach.

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Written by Freezbone Team

We design freezable, refillable natural-rubber chew toys and test every fill and routine on our own dogs before we write about it. Freezbone Limited ships across the European Union from Ireland.

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