Christmas foods that are dangerous for dogs
Mince pies, pudding, stuffing and turkey bones: what to keep away, what's fine, and a calm plan for the day.
A British Christmas is a minefield at nose height. Chocolate hanging on the tree, a plate of mince pies on the coffee table, a turkey carcass in the kitchen bin, and at least one guest who "only gave him a tiny bit". Several of the foods we look forward to most all year are dangerous for dogs.
This guide covers the Christmas foods to keep well out of reach, what your dog can safely have from the table, what to do if they eat something they should not, and a simple plan to keep Christmas Day and Boxing Day calm.
Keep chocolate, mince pies, Christmas pudding and cake, raisins, sultanas and currants, stuffing and gravy, cooked turkey bones, sugar-free sweets, macadamia nuts and alcohol away from your dog. Small amounts of plain turkey meat without skin and plain vegetables are fine. If your dog eats something dangerous, call your vet straight away.
Which Christmas foods are dangerous for dogs?
| Food | Why it is a problem | Where it hides at Christmas |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate | Toxic to dogs. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous | Selection boxes, advent calendars, tree decorations, wrapped presents |
| Mince pies, Christmas pudding, Christmas cake | Packed with dried fruit, and puddings and cakes often contain alcohol too | Coffee tables, kitchen worktops, the pudding left to cool |
| Raisins, sultanas and currants | Toxic to dogs. Even small amounts can make some dogs seriously ill | Stollen, panettone, Christmas biscuits, the cheeseboard (grapes too) |
| Onion and garlic | Toxic to dogs, cooked or raw, as are leeks and chives | Stuffing, gravy, bread sauce, sausages and pigs in blankets |
| Cooked bones | Can splinter, causing choking or internal injuries | The turkey carcass, the bin, scraped plates |
| Xylitol (a sweetener) | Very dangerous to dogs, even in small amounts | Sugar-free sweets and chewing gum, some baking and peanut butters |
| Macadamia nuts | Can make dogs ill | Bowls of nuts, festive biscuits and chocolates |
| Alcohol | Dangerous to dogs | Unattended glasses, trifle, brandy butter, boozy puddings |
Rich, fatty leftovers such as turkey skin, fat trimmings and roast potatoes cooked in goose fat are not on the toxic list, but they can cause a painful stomach upset. Better to skip them altogether.
What Christmas dinner can my dog have?
Your dog does not need to miss out completely. A small, plain plate is fine for most healthy dogs.
Fine in small amounts
- Plain turkey breast, skin off, no bones
- Plain carrots, boiled or steamed
- Green beans
- Plain parsnip, without honey or fat
- A sprout or two, if you are feeling brave about the evening
Keep off the plate
- Anything with gravy, stuffing or bread sauce
- Pigs in blankets and sausages
- Turkey skin and bones
- Mince pies, pudding and cake
- Chocolate, sweets and nuts
Keep portions small and take them out of your dog's usual food, so Christmas does not turn into a week of overeating. If your dog has a sensitive stomach or a health condition, check with your vet first.
Freezbone tip
Make your dog a frozen "Christmas dinner": part of their usual food mixed with a little plain turkey and mashed carrot, packed into a toy and frozen on Christmas Eve. Our frozen dog treats from UK supermarket ingredients have more ideas.
Where do dogs find Christmas food?
Most Christmas food accidents happen when nobody is looking. The usual culprits:
- Under the tree. Wrapped chocolates are easy to sniff out. Keep edible presents off the floor.
- On the tree. Chocolate decorations at dog height are an open invitation.
- Guests' bags and coats. Sweets and sugar-free chewing gum go in pockets and handbags. Hang them up high.
- The bin. Take the turkey carcass straight outside to a bin your dog cannot reach.
- Low tables. Bowls of nuts, cheeseboards and drinks all sit at the perfect height.
- Kind-hearted guests. Tell everyone, children included, not to feed the dog, however hard they stare.
What should I do if my dog eats something dangerous?
- Call your vet straight away, even if your dog seems fine. Some problems take hours to show
- Tell them what your dog ate, roughly how much, and when. Keep the wrapper or packaging
- Do not try to make your dog sick unless your vet tells you to
- Watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, shaking, restlessness, wobbliness or unusual sleepiness
Before the big day, check how your vet practice handles out-of-hours calls over Christmas and Boxing Day, and save the number in your phone. You do not want to be searching for it at nine o'clock on Christmas night.
A calm Christmas Day plan for your dog
A busy house full of food, visitors and new noises is a lot for any dog. A little planning keeps the day relaxed for everyone.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Christmas Eve | Fill and freeze two or three toys, ready for the next two days |
| Morning | A good long walk before the visitors and the cooking start |
| Cooking | Keep your dog out of the kitchen, with a baby gate if you have one |
| Christmas dinner | A frozen toy in a quiet room while everyone eats |
| Afternoon | A quiet spot to retreat to, and a short walk to stretch everyone's legs |
| Evening | Last wee in the garden, bin secured, leftovers in the fridge |
| Boxing Day | A proper walk, the next frozen toy, and the same no-feeding rule for leftovers |
A frozen toy at dinner time does two jobs: your dog is busy and happy, and nobody is tempted to slip them a pig in blanket under the table.
Thinking ahead to New Year's Eve
Once Christmas is over, New Year's Eve brings parties, nibbles on low tables and fireworks at midnight. Our guide to keeping your dog calm during fireworks works just as well on 31 December, and our ideas for indoor enrichment on dark evenings will see you through the long, wet days between.
And if you are looking for a present for the dog, or for a dog-owning friend, a set of frozen toys goes down well.
“Bought this pack and gave one each to coworkers for their dogs for Christmas. Everyone is thrilled with them!!!”
Terri H., verified buyer
General information, not veterinary advice. If you think your dog has eaten something harmful, contact your vet immediately.
Frequently asked questions
-
No. Mince pies are full of raisins, sultanas and currants, which are toxic to dogs. If your dog eats one, call your vet straight away.
-
Yes. Christmas pudding and Christmas cake contain dried fruit, which is toxic to dogs, and often alcohol too. Keep them well out of reach.
-
A small amount of plain turkey breast is fine for most healthy dogs, with the skin and bones removed and no gravy or stuffing.
-
Better not. Stuffing and gravy usually contain onion or garlic, which are toxic to dogs, and they are often rich and fatty too.
-
No. Cooked bones can splinter and cause choking or internal injuries. Put the carcass straight into a bin your dog cannot reach.
-
Call your vet straight away, even if your dog seems fine. Tell them what kind of chocolate, roughly how much and when, and keep the wrapper.
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