10 Christmas Foods that are Toxic to Dogs

The holidays are all about sharing joy with loved ones—and that includes our four-legged family members! But while it's tempting to slip your pup a festive treat under the table, many traditional Christmas foods can be dangerous or even toxic to dogs. Here is our list of the top 10 Christmas Foods that are toxic to dogs.

Christmas is a time for celebration, delicious food, and family gatherings—including our furry family members! While we enjoy our festive feast, it's crucial to know which holiday foods can be dangerous for dogs. Many Christmas favourites that are perfectly safe for humans can be toxic to our canine companions.

To help keep your dog safe this holiday season, here are 10 common Christmas foods dogs can't eat and why they're dangerous.

It may not surprise you that CHOCOLATE is number one on our toxic foods list.

🍫 Chocolate: The Number One Christmas Danger

Chocolate tops the list of dangerous Christmas foods for dogs. It contains theobromine and caffeine, both toxic to dogs. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is.

Watch out for: Christmas chocolates, advent calendars, hot chocolate, chocolate yule logs, and chocolate coins.

Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, tremors, seizures.

Dogs can not eat Grapes in all its forms - raisins and dried fruit.

🍇 Grapes, Raisins & Dried Fruit: Silent Kidney Killers

These fruits are extremely toxic to dogs and can cause sudden kidney failure. Even small amounts can be dangerous, and there's no known safe quantity.

Watch out for: Christmas pudding, mince pies, Christmas cake, fruit cake, stollen, panettone, and fruit salads.

Symptoms: Vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, kidney failure.

Fatty meats can trigger pancreatitis

🥩 Ham & Fatty Meats: The Pancreatitis Risk

Ham and processed meats are far too salty and fatty for dogs. The high salt content can lead to sodium ion poisoning and excessive thirst, while the fat can trigger pancreatitis—a serious and painful inflammation of the pancreas.

Watch out for: Glazed ham, bacon, sausages, salami, turkey skin, gravy, and fatty meat trimmings.

Macadamia Nuts are particularly toxic to dogs.

🥜 Macadamia Nuts: The Mystery Toxin

Macadamia nuts are particularly toxic to dogs. Symptoms typically appear within 12 hours and can last up to 48 hours.

Watch out for: Mixed nuts, Christmas cookies, white chocolate macadamia cookies, and nut platters.

Symptoms: Weakness, vomiting, tremors, hyperthermia.

Onions, Garlic and Chives are in so many foods including stuffing and gravy.

🧅 Onions, Garlic & Chives: Hidden in Everything

All members of the allium family—including onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, and chives—are toxic to dogs in any form: raw, cooked, powdered, or dried.

Watch out for: Stuffing, gravy, roasted vegetables, casseroles, and dishes seasoned with onion or garlic powder.

Symptoms: Weakness, pale gums, red or brown urine, anemia (symptoms may appear days later).

Make sure your table scraps like cooked bones are disposed of straight away.

🦴 Cooked Bones: A Splintering Hazard

While raw bones can be safe for dogs, cooked bones are extremely dangerous. Cooking makes bones brittle and prone to splintering, creating sharp fragments that can puncture the digestive tract, cause choking, break teeth, or create intestinal blockages.

Watch out for: Turkey bones, ham bones, chicken bones, lamb bones, and any leftover bones from your Christmas roast.

Alcohol is extremely toxic to dogs, watch for desserts that often also contain alcohol.

🥃 Alcohol: Not Funny, Just Dangerous

Alcohol is extremely toxic to dogs, even in small amounts. Dogs are much smaller than humans and metabolize alcohol differently, making even tiny quantities dangerous.

Watch out for: Eggnog, rum balls, Christmas pudding (often contains brandy), wine, beer, cocktails, and desserts made with liqueurs.

Symptoms: Vomiting, disorientation, breathing difficulties, coma, death.

Sugar free sweetener is often XYLITOL and recently being labelled as BIRCH SUGAR - it is extremely toxic to dogs, even tiny amounts can be fatal.

🧁 Xylitol: The Silent Sweetener Killer

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that's extremely dangerous for dogs. It's increasingly found in sugar-free products and may also be labelled as birch sugar. Even tiny amounts can be fatal, causing rapid insulin release, dangerous drops in blood sugar, and liver failure.

Watch out for: Sugar-free candy, sugar-free gum, sugar-free baked goods, some peanut butters, and products labelled as containing birch sugar or xylitol.

Symptoms: Weakness, seizures, collapse, liver failure.

Nutmeg and other spices and Blue Cheese also should be avoided.

🎄 Other Christmas Foods to Avoid

Nutmeg & Spices

Nutmeg is a common spice in Christmas recipes but contains myristicin, which is toxic to dogs. Large amounts can cause serious symptoms.

Watch out for: Eggnog, pumpkin pie, Christmas cookies, spiced cakes, and holiday spice mixes.

Symptoms: Hallucinations, increased heart rate, disorientation, seizures.

Rich, Fatty Foods

Rich, fatty Christmas dishes can wreak havoc on your dog's digestive system and trigger pancreatitis. Stick to lean, plain meats if you want to share.

Watch out for: Butter-laden dishes, creamy sauces, fried foods, cheese platters, and rich desserts.

Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy.

What CAN your dog eat on Christmas Day to be included in the festivities?

✅ What CAN Your Dog Have?

Don't worry—your pup doesn't have to miss out entirely! Here are safe Christmas foods in moderation:

Safe Options (Plain & Unseasoned Only):

✓ Plain turkey meat (no skin, no bones, no seasoning) ✓ Plain chicken meat (boneless, skinless) ✓ Carrots (raw or cooked) ✓ Green beans (plain, no butter or cream) ✓ Plain sweet potato (no marshmallows or butter) ✓ Plain pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling!) ✓ Small amounts of plain mashed potato (no butter, milk, or garlic)

Remember: Plain means PLAIN—no butter, oil, salt, pepper, garlic, or any seasonings!

🚨 What To Do If Your Dog Eats Something Toxic

If you suspect your dog has eaten something toxic:

•       Stay calm and remove any remaining food immediately

•       Note what they ate and estimate the amount

•       Contact your veterinarian immediately—even if your dog seems fine (toxic effects can be delayed)

•       Don't induce vomiting unless specifically instructed by your vet

•       Keep emergency numbers handy including your nearest emergency animal hospital

💡 Holiday Safety Tips

Before Guests Arrive:

1. Brief your guests about not feeding your dog from the table

2. Create a safe space for your dog away from the festivities

3. Clear low tables of any dangerous foods

4. Secure the bin so your dog can't raid leftovers

During the Celebration:

1. Monitor your dog during meal times

2. Clean up immediately after eating

3. Keep chocolate high up and out of reach

4. Watch the floor for dropped foods

After the Party:

1. Dispose of bones and dangerous scraps immediately

2. Check the floor thoroughly for dropped food

3. Secure leftovers in the fridge or high cabinets

4. Empty bins outside if they contain dangerous foods

   
   

🎁 Give Your Dog Their Own Special Christmas

Instead of sharing human food, why not make Christmas special for your pup in safer ways?

Better Ways to Include Your Dog:

• Dog-safe Christmas treats made specifically for pets

• New toys wrapped as presents

• A special dog-friendly "dinner" prepared separately

• Extra cuddles and attention

• A festive dog bandana or collar from Hendricks and Maple!

• A new cosy sweater for winter walks

Want to include your pup in the festivities? These foods are safe in moderation:

•       Plain cooked turkey or chicken (white meat, no skin or bones)

•       Carrots (raw or cooked, no seasoning)

•       Green beans (plain, no butter)

•       Sweet potato (cooked plain, no marshmallows)

•       Plain pumpkin (not pie filling)

•       Apples (sliced, no seeds or core)

•       Blueberries

Remember: Even safe foods should be given in moderation. Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily food intake.

Have some safe options for your dog to enjoy at Christmas

Quick Reference: Christmas Foods Dogs CAN'T Eat

Print this list and stick it on your fridge!

❌ Chocolate (all types) ❌ Grapes, raisins, sultanas, currants ❌ Ham and fatty meats ❌ Macadamia nuts ❌ Onions, garlic, chives, leeks

❌ Cooked bones ❌ Alcohol ❌ Xylitol (artificial sweetener) ❌ Nutmeg ❌ Raw dough ❌ Blue cheese ❌ Christmas pudding ❌ Mince pies ❌ Fruit cake ❌ Stuffing with onions/garlic ❌ Rich gravies ❌ Eggnog

When in doubt, leave it out!

Have a safe and happy holiday season from all of us at Hendricks and Maple! 🐾

Need stylish accessories for your festive pup? Check out our Christmas collection or browse by your dog's breed for the perfect fit!