The main holiday hazards for pets are tinsel and ribbon, an unsecured tree and its water, lilies, mistletoe and holly, rich or toxic foods such as chocolate, grapes, xylitol and fatty leftovers, cooked bones, guests' medicines, and the stress of noise and visitors. Most can be prevented with a few changes to how you decorate and host.
December's also when clinics run short hours, right when the kitchen counter is covered in shortbread and the tree's full of shiny things.
Before the season starts, save your vet's holiday schedule, the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital and a pet poison helpline in your phone. If your pet eats something on this list, call one of them right away instead of waiting for signs.
Holiday hazards for pets: a room-by-room checklist
The tree and decorations
| Hazard | Risk | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Tree | Can tip over on a climbing cat or a bumping dog | Secure it tightly to a wall or heavy base |
| Tree water | Can grow bacteria that upset the stomach | Cover it or keep it out of reach |
| Tinsel and ribbon | Vomiting, a blocked gut, dehydration, possibly surgery | Skip tinsel; put ribbons away after unwrapping |
| Glass or plastic ornaments | Broken pieces injure the mouth and gut | Hang breakables high, or use pet-safe ones |
| Light cords | A chewed wire can give a deadly shock | Tuck cords away or use cord covers |
| Candles | Burns and fires when knocked over | Never leave candles burning unattended |
Cats find dangling tinsel and ribbon irresistible, so if you've got a cat, skip them entirely.
Holiday plants
The ASPCA says mistletoe and holly can cause stomach upset and heart problems, and lilies are highly toxic to cats, causing kidney failure. Poinsettias are milder, usually causing stomach irritation. Artificial plants are the safest choice. See are lilies toxic to cats for why even a small amount of a lily matters.
If a cat chews any part of a lily, or drinks the water from a lily vase, call a vet right away.
The kitchen and table
Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center lists the holiday foods most likely to harm dogs:
- Grapes and raisins, including in baking and stuffing, which can cause acute kidney failure.
- Chocolate, with dark chocolate the most dangerous; see my dog ate chocolate.
- Xylitol in sugar-free sweets and baking, which can cause low blood sugar, seizures and liver damage.
- Onions, garlic and chives, which damage red blood cells.
- Raw yeast dough, which expands in the stomach and produces alcohol.
- Alcohol in any form.
- Fatty food such as trimmings, gravy and cheese, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea or pancreatitis.
- Bones, which can cause choking, broken teeth and blockages.
The ASPCA's advice is to keep your pet on their usual diet over the holidays. If you want to include them, a small piece of plain, boneless, fully cooked turkey is the limit. Take out the trash, which is where many dogs find bones. Our list of foods toxic to dogs has more.
Guests and parties
- Ask guests to keep medicines in a closed cabinet, not in a bag or suitcase on the floor, as the ASPCA suggests.
- Keep drinks off low tables.
- Tell visitors, especially children, not to feed the pet from the table.
- Watch the door: guests coming and going are a common way pets slip out.
- Make sure your pet's ID tag and microchip details are current before the season.
A ten-minute check before guests arrive
A quick walk through the house before a party catches most problems:
- Tree secured, water covered, cords tucked away.
- Gifts with food inside, especially chocolate, kept off the floor and out from under the tree.
- Lilies, mistletoe and holly out of reach, or swapped for artificial ones.
- A lidded bin in the kitchen, and a plan for who takes the trash out.
- A closed cabinet or room for coats, bags and guests' medicines.
- Your pet's quiet room ready, with water and a bed.
- Your vet's holiday hours and the emergency hospital's number on the fridge.
Stress, noise and New Year's Eve
Parties, unfamiliar people and fireworks can frighten pets. The ASPCA suggests giving your pet a quiet room to retreat to, with water, a bed and familiar toys, away from the noise. For dogs afraid of fireworks, start planning early; our guide to dogs afraid of fireworks covers what helps, and your vet can talk through options for pets with severe fear.
If you are travelling or boarding
Boarding kennels and sitters fill up fast in December. Book early, and check what vaccine proof the kennel requires; our guide on pet records for boarding covers what to send. Leave written care instructions and your vet's and the emergency hospital's numbers with whoever looks after your pet.
If something goes wrong
- Take away anything left, and keep the wrapper or package.
- Call your vet, the nearest emergency clinic, or a pet poison helpline right away.
- Don't make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
- Go now if your pet is vomiting repeatedly, has a swollen belly, is weak, has a seizure or has trouble breathing.
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435) answers around the clock, and a fee may apply. The free PetGrid app's map shows vet and emergency clinics near you, on PetGrid or not, through find a vet, and a care card link gives a sitter your pet's allergies, medicines and your contact number for the holidays.
Questions people ask
Are Christmas trees dangerous for cats and dogs?
The tree itself is mostly a tipping risk, so secure it tightly. The bigger dangers are tree water, which can grow bacteria, and decorations such as tinsel, breakable ornaments and light cords.
Is tinsel dangerous for cats?
Yes, tinsel can cause severe vomiting, a blocked gut and dehydration, and may need surgery. Homes with cats should skip it.
Are poinsettias poisonous to pets?
Poinsettias usually cause only mild stomach irritation. Mistletoe and holly are more of a concern, and lilies are highly toxic to cats.
Can my dog have turkey at Christmas?
A small piece of plain, boneless, fully cooked turkey is generally fine. Avoid skin, gravy, stuffing with onion or garlic, and all cooked bones.
What should I do if my dog eats Christmas cake?
Call your vet or a pet poison helpline right away. Christmas cake often contains raisins, and sometimes alcohol or chocolate, which can all be dangerous to dogs.
The short version
Most holiday emergencies come from a short list: tinsel, lilies, chocolate, grapes, xylitol, fatty leftovers, bones, a guest's open bag of medicine, and a door left open. Decorate with your pets in mind, keep them on their usual food, give them a quiet room, and know which clinic's open before you need one.
The PetGrid app is free for pet owners and keeps records, clinic numbers and care instructions in one place. Read how it works.
Keep your pet's records, vaccines and visits in one safe place. The PetGrid app is free for pet owners, with or without a clinic.
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