Christmas Hazards
Christmas is fast approaching and ‘tis the season to be jolly!
However, amongst the fun and enjoyment of this time of year, there are also numerous seasonal dangers that us pet owners need to be aware of to help keep our four-legged friends safe over the festive period.
Food and Drink Dangers
- Nuts – Nuts, in particular, macadamia nuts, are highly toxic to dogs and can cause serious symptoms including weakness, vomiting, tremors and high body temperature. Nuts in general can cause choking, intestinal blockages and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) due to their shells and high fat content.
- Chocolate – Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are highly toxic. The darker the chocolate, the higher the cocoa content and therefore the more poisonous it is. Please keep chocolate out of reach of pets.
- Mince pies and fruit cake – Mince pies and fruit/Christmas cake contain dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas and currants which are toxic and can cause kidney damage or failure. Unfortunately, the toxic dose varies significantly from dog to dog, and it’s impossible to predict which dogs will be severely affected.
- Alcohol – Unlike humans, pets cannot metabolize alcohol and it is toxic to them. Ingestion can lead to alcohol poisoning causing vomiting, lethargy, disorientation, seizures and a drop in body temperature.
- Onions, garlic, shallots and leeks – These popular Christmas foods belong to the ‘Allium’ family. They contain compounds which can damage red blood cells and lead to anaemia.
- Cooked bones – Cooked bones from poultry can splinter and if ingested can cause gastrointestinal damage and are also a high risk for choking.
- Fatty foods – Feeding your pet high-fat foods such as pigs in blankets, gravy, stuffing, chicken/turkey skin, nuts and roast potatoes can lead to a painful condition called pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). It is also a risk for causing digestive upset.
Decoration and Plant Dangers
- Pine needles – Ingestion of pine needles can cause stomach upset, vomiting and/or diarrhoea. They can also cause intestinal blockage and damage to the mouth, throat or digestive tract due to the needles being so sharp. Please hoover up any fallen needles to prevent this and any chance for them getting stuck in your pets’ paws.t untreated, these issues can gradually worsen, reducing your dog’s quality of life.
- Poinsettia, mistletoe, Ivy and holly – These beautiful festive plants can all pose a risk to our pets if ingested. They will likely cause vomiting, diarrhoea and drooling. Please contact your vets if your pets ingest any of these plants.
- Ornaments and tinsel – These can look like appealing toys for pets to play with but can cause a lot of problems if ingested/swallowed. Cats in particular are attracted to shiny, dangling material. Tinsel can bunch up when swallowed and cause an intestinal blockage. Broken ornaments can cut your pets’ mouth, paws or internal structures if swallowed.
Other Hazards
- Christmas lights – Christmas lights can pose several hazards to pets. The key ones to be aware of are electrocution, burns, ingestion and choking. Please keep lights out of reach of pets.
- Batteries – Batteries are a significant hazard to dogs, they can cause chemical burns, heavy metal poisoning, choking risk and obstruction risk. Keep batteries in a drawer out of reach, supervise pets around battery-powered devices and pick up any batteries if dropped.
- Anti-freeze – Anti-freeze is used a lot throughout the winter periods to de-frost cars. The active ingredient is ‘ethylene glycol’ which is highly toxic to both cats and dogs. Unfortunately, they like to drink it because of its sweet taste. Please keep cans/bottles of anti-freeze off the floor and out of reach of pets, clean up any spillages immediately and dispose of cans/bottles responsibly
Although there is a fair few hazards to be mindful of over the festive period, with a little care and attention you can ensure your pets stay safe and happy. By doing this, you can make this Christmas a time of love and togetherness for the whole family – paws included! We hope you have a magical Christmas and wish you all the best for the New Year in 2026.
