The holiday season can be an exciting time for the whole family, including your dog. But between unfamiliar guests, tempting food, decorations, gifts, loud noises, and changes to the normal routine, the holidays can also introduce unexpected risks.
A little preparation can go a long way.
By keeping dangerous foods out of reach, securing decorations, creating a quiet retreat, and supervising your dog around guests and new objects, you can make holiday celebrations safer and more comfortable for everyone.
Here are 15 practical dog safety tips for the holidays to keep in mind.
1. Keep Holiday Foods Away From Your Dog
Holiday meals often contain ingredients that aren’t appropriate for dogs.
Chocolate, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, and products containing xylitol can be dangerous. Fatty, heavily seasoned foods can also cause digestive problems, while bones can cause choking, obstruction, or internal injuries.
Pay particular attention to:
- Chocolate desserts
- Sugar-free candy and baked goods
- Grapes and raisins
- Stuffing containing onions or garlic
- Foods containing alcohol
- Rich or very fatty leftovers
- Turkey or chicken bones
- Foods containing xylitol
- Unsecured trash containing food scraps
If you want to give your dog a holiday treat, use an appropriate dog treat or a small portion of a dog-safe food your veterinarian has approved.
2. Be Especially Careful With Xylitol
Xylitol deserves special attention because it can cause serious and potentially life-threatening poisoning in dogs.
It may be found in sugar-free gum, candy, some baked goods, certain peanut and nut butters, toothpaste, mouthwash, and other products. FDA guidance notes that signs can develop rapidly and may include vomiting, weakness, difficulty walking, collapse, and seizures.
Check ingredient labels before giving your dog anything that isn’t specifically intended for them.
If you suspect your dog has eaten a xylitol-containing product, contact a veterinarian or animal poison service immediately.
3. Don’t Give Your Dog Holiday Bones
It may be tempting to give your dog leftover turkey or other bones after dinner, but bones can cause serious problems.
Bones can become lodged in the digestive tract or cause injuries if sharp pieces break off. The FDA specifically warns about holiday turkey carcasses and other bones being dangerous to pets.
Instead, dispose of bones securely in a trash container your dog cannot access.
4. Secure the Christmas Tree
A Christmas tree can create several potential hazards.
A curious dog may knock it over, chew branches, drink tree water, or investigate ornaments.
Consider:
- Securing the tree so it cannot easily tip over
- Keeping fragile ornaments out of reach
- Avoiding decorations that can easily be swallowed
- Preventing access to tree water
- Using a barrier if your dog repeatedly investigates the tree
- Keeping electrical cords safely managed
ASPCA guidance recommends securing Christmas trees and preventing pets from accessing tree water and potentially dangerous decorations.
5. Skip Dangerous Decorations
Holiday decorations can look like toys from a dog’s perspective.
Glass ornaments can break, small decorations can become choking hazards, and certain decorative materials can cause gastrointestinal obstruction if swallowed.
Keep particularly tempting objects away from your dog’s reach.
If your dog is an enthusiastic chewer, consider choosing sturdy, pet-safe decorations for lower parts of the tree or keeping your dog away from the decorated area altogether.
6. Keep Electrical Cords and Batteries Out of Reach
Holiday lights can create additional electrical hazards.
Dogs that chew electrical wires can suffer serious injuries, including potentially fatal electrical shock.
Batteries can also be dangerous if chewed or swallowed. ASPCA warns that punctured batteries can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus.
Use cord covers, clips, barriers, or other methods to keep wires inaccessible.
Don’t leave loose batteries, remote controls, or battery-powered decorations where your dog can reach them.
7. Be Careful With Candles and Open Flames
Candles can create both burn and fire hazards.
A wagging tail or curious nose can knock over a candle surprisingly quickly.
Keep candles and other open flames in locations your dog cannot reach, and never leave them burning unattended.
Battery-powered candles can provide a safer decorative alternative in homes with curious pets.
8. Watch Out for Holiday Plants
Some seasonal plants and floral arrangements can cause problems if pets chew or ingest them.
ASPCA specifically warns about plants such as mistletoe and holly, while certain lilies can be extremely dangerous to cats. Poinsettias can also cause gastrointestinal irritation.
If you’re unsure whether a plant is safe for your dog, keep it out of reach until you’ve confirmed its safety.
9. Be Careful With Snow Globes
Snow globes are another decoration that pet owners may overlook.
Some snow globes can contain ethylene glycol, the toxic ingredient found in antifreeze. If one breaks, pets may be attracted to the liquid.
Keep snow globes on stable surfaces that your dog cannot reach.
If one breaks, keep your dog away from the area and clean it thoroughly. If you believe your dog may have licked or swallowed the liquid, contact a veterinarian immediately.
10. Create a Quiet Retreat
Holiday gatherings can be overwhelming for some dogs.
A house filled with unfamiliar people, children, music, loud conversations, and constant activity can make it difficult for a dog to relax.
Set up a quiet area where your dog can retreat whenever they want.
You could include:
- Their usual bed
- A crate if they already enjoy using it
- A familiar blanket
- Fresh water
- A favorite toy
- A suitable food puzzle
- A quiet place away from foot traffic
Don’t force your dog to interact with guests simply because everyone wants to say hello.
11. Watch for Signs of Stress
Pay attention to your dog’s body language throughout the celebration.
Possible signs that your dog is becoming uncomfortable include:
- Pacing
- Excessive panting
- Repeated lip licking
- Hiding
- Trembling
- Trying to escape
- Excessive barking
- Avoiding people
- Stiff or tense body language
- Repeated yawning in stressful situations
If you notice these behaviors, give your dog an opportunity to move somewhere quieter.
A dog doesn’t have to growl or snap before you take their discomfort seriously.
12. Prevent Door-Dashing
Holiday parties can mean people entering and leaving your home constantly.
Every time the front door opens, there’s a chance your dog could slip outside.
Before guests arrive, consider using:
- A baby gate
- A closed interior room
- A crate your dog already enjoys
- A leash during busy arrival periods
Make sure your dog’s identification information is current as an additional precaution.
A properly fitted collar with an identification tag and a registered microchip can improve the chances of being reunited if your dog escapes.
13. Supervise New Toys and Gifts
Dogs often receive presents during the holidays, but not every toy is appropriate for every dog.
Before giving your dog a new toy, check for:
- Small detachable pieces
- Loose stitching
- Batteries
- Sharp edges
- Materials your dog could easily tear apart
- Pieces that could become choking hazards
Supervise your dog with unfamiliar toys, particularly if they are powerful chewers.
Replace damaged toys before pieces can be swallowed.
14. Keep Holiday Trash Secure
The garbage can become one of the most dangerous places in the house during a holiday meal.
It may contain bones, food scraps, wrappers, chocolate, skewers, packaging, and other objects your dog shouldn’t eat.
Keep trash behind a closed door or use a secure container.
The FDA specifically warns that holiday food waste and bones can cause choking, obstruction, and serious digestive injuries.
Don’t assume that a trash bag left on the floor is safe simply because your dog normally ignores it.
15. Secure Your Dog During Holiday Car Trips
If you’re driving to visit family or friends, keep your dog properly restrained.
A loose dog can distract the driver and may be seriously injured during sudden braking or a collision.
Depending on your vehicle and dog, appropriate options may include:
- A secured travel crate
- A properly fitted vehicle harness
- A secure carrier
- A suitable pet barrier
Never allow your dog to ride in the driver’s lap or roam freely around the vehicle.
Plan regular breaks during longer trips so your dog can drink, stretch, and use the bathroom safely.
What About Holiday Leftovers?
You don’t necessarily have to exclude your dog from every holiday food experience.
If your veterinarian has no concerns about your dog’s diet, small amounts of certain plain foods may be appropriate.
For example, some dogs can enjoy small portions of plain, cooked, unseasoned foods such as:
- Plain cooked turkey without bones or skin
- Plain pumpkin
- Plain sweet potato
- Carrots
- Certain other dog-safe vegetables
However, these should complement—not replace—a complete and balanced diet.
Avoid giving leftovers that contain sauces, heavy seasoning, onions, garlic, chocolate, alcohol, xylitol, or excessive amounts of fat.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats Something Dangerous
Don’t wait for symptoms if you know your dog has consumed a potentially toxic substance such as xylitol, chocolate, or antifreeze-related liquid.
Contact your veterinarian, emergency veterinary clinic, or an appropriate animal poison-control service as soon as possible.
Keep the packaging or ingredient list available if possible. Information about what was eaten, approximately how much, and when it happened can help veterinary professionals determine what to do next.
Don’t give your dog home remedies or attempt to make them vomit unless a veterinary professional specifically instructs you to do so.
A Simple Holiday Dog-Safety Checklist
Before your guests arrive, check the following:
- ☐ Dangerous foods are out of reach
- ☐ Trash cans are secured
- ☐ Chocolate and xylitol-containing foods are safely stored
- ☐ Alcohol is inaccessible
- ☐ Bones are disposed of securely
- ☐ Christmas tree is stable
- ☐ Ornaments are safely positioned
- ☐ Electrical cords are protected
- ☐ Candles are inaccessible
- ☐ Holiday plants are safely placed
- ☐ Snow globes are out of reach
- ☐ Your dog has a quiet retreat
- ☐ ID information is current
- ☐ New toys have been checked for hazards
- ☐ Your dog has access to fresh water
- ☐ Emergency veterinary information is available
Final Thoughts
The holidays should be a time for celebration, but dogs don’t always understand that the strange food, decorations, visitors, and noises are temporary.
A few simple precautions can prevent many common holiday accidents.
Keep dangerous foods and decorations out of reach, secure electrical cords, provide a quiet retreat, supervise your dog around guests and new toys, and make sure your pet can safely escape the excitement when they need a break.
With a little planning, your dog can enjoy the holiday season without turning the festivities into an unexpected trip to the emergency veterinarian.
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