The holidays are wonderful. They're also the time of year when emergency vets see the biggest spike in food related poisoning and gastrointestinal emergencies in dogs. Between Thanksgiving feasts, Christmas dinners, and New Year's celebrations, our homes are filled with food that smells incredible to dogs and can make them seriously ill.
This guide covers the specific foods to keep away from your dog, why they're dangerous, and what you can safely offer instead so your dog gets to participate in the celebration without a trip to the emergency clinic.
The Dangerous List
Chocolate
The most well known dog toxin and still the most common holiday poisoning. Theobromine in chocolate is toxic to dogs. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are the most dangerous; milk chocolate is less concentrated but still harmful in sufficient quantities. White chocolate has minimal theobromine but is still high in fat.
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, seizures. Can be fatal.
Safe swap: Carob treats made specifically for dogs. They look and smell like chocolate to your dog but contain no theobromine.
Xylitol (Birch Sugar)
Found in sugar free candies, gum, baked goods, and some peanut butters. Extremely toxic to dogs even in small amounts. Causes rapid insulin release leading to dangerous hypoglycemia, and can cause liver failure.
Symptoms: Vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures, liver failure. Can be fatal within hours.
Safe swap: Always check peanut butter labels. Choose peanut butter with only peanuts and salt. Many brands now specifically label as "xylitol free" or "pet safe."
Grapes and Raisins
Present in fruit platters, baked goods, trail mix, and holiday stuffing recipes. The toxic compound hasn't been definitively identified, but even small amounts can cause acute kidney failure in some dogs. Not all dogs react, but there's no way to predict which ones will.
Symptoms: Vomiting, lethargy, decreased urination, kidney failure.
Safe swap: Blueberries, watermelon (seedless), or apple slices (no seeds or core).
Onions, Garlic, Leeks, and Chives
Present in virtually every savory holiday dish. All members of the allium family are toxic to dogs, causing damage to red blood cells. Garlic is approximately five times more toxic than onions by weight. Cooked forms are just as dangerous as raw.
Symptoms: Lethargy, weakness, pale gums, red or brown urine. Symptoms may be delayed by several days.
Safe swap: Plain cooked meat without seasoning. If you want to make your dog a holiday meal, cook a small portion of their protein separately, before adding any seasoning.
Cooked Bones
Turkey bones, ham bones, rib bones. Cooked bones become brittle and splinter when chewed. These splinters can puncture the esophagus, stomach, or intestines. This is a surgical emergency.
Symptoms: Choking, bloody stool, vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy.
Safe swap: Raw recreational bones appropriate for your dog's size (ask your vet), or dental chews designed for safe gnawing.
Fatty Foods
Turkey skin, gravy, butter laden dishes, ham. High fat foods can trigger pancreatitis, a painful and potentially life threatening inflammation of the pancreas. Senior dogs and dogs prone to pancreatitis are especially at risk.
Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hunched posture, loss of appetite.
Safe swap: Lean, cooked turkey breast (no skin, no seasoning). Plain, cooked sweet potato. Small amounts of plain pumpkin.
Alcohol
Beer, wine, cocktails, and foods containing alcohol (rum cake, bourbon sauces). Dogs are much more sensitive to alcohol than humans. Even small amounts can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature.
Symptoms: Vomiting, disorientation, difficulty breathing, coma.
Safe swap: Bone broth served warm (unsalted, onion free). Your dog will feel like they're getting something special because, to them, they are.
Macadamia Nuts
Often found in holiday cookies and baked goods. Toxic to dogs, causing weakness, vomiting, tremors, and hyperthermia. Usually not fatal but extremely uncomfortable.
Safe swap: Small amounts of plain, unsalted peanuts or cashews (in moderation; nuts are high in fat).
The Safe Holiday Plate for Your Dog
You can absolutely include your dog in holiday meals safely. Here's a "holiday plate" you can prepare alongside your own:
- Small portion of plain, cooked turkey breast (no skin, no bones, no seasoning)
- A tablespoon of plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling)
- A few steamed green beans (plain)
- A small piece of plain sweet potato
- A few blueberries
- Their regular supplement on top (routine matters even on holidays)
This plate gives your dog a special meal that's safe, nutritious, and makes them feel included. It takes five minutes to prepare and costs almost nothing.
Protecting Your Dog During Holiday Gatherings
- Brief all guests. Especially guests with children. A simple "please don't feed the dog" at the start of the gathering prevents most incidents.
- Secure the trash. Turkey carcasses, bones, chocolate wrappers, and fatty scraps in an unsecured trash can are an open buffet for a determined dog. Use a can with a secure lid or move trash to a room your dog can't access.
- Create a safe space. If the gathering is large or chaotic, give your dog a quiet room with their bed, water, and a food puzzle to keep them occupied. This also prevents well meaning guests from sneaking them contraband.
- Watch the counter. Counter surfing is a year round talent for some dogs, but holiday counters loaded with cooling pies and unattended appetizers raise the stakes considerably.
- Keep the emergency vet number visible. Post it on the refrigerator. Put it in your phone. Know the location of your nearest 24 hour emergency veterinary clinic before you need it.
If Your Dog Eats Something Dangerous
- Stay calm. Panic doesn't help your dog.
- Identify what they ate and approximately how much.
- Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888 426 4435, fee applies) immediately.
- Do NOT induce vomiting unless specifically instructed by a veterinary professional. Some substances cause more damage coming back up.
- Follow the professional's instructions exactly.
The holidays are for joy, and your dog should get to share in that joy safely. A little preparation, a safe holiday plate, and clear communication with guests means everyone celebrates without a trip to the emergency vet. Including the dog. Especially the dog.