What Dogs Can & Cannot Eat at Christmas

Keep Your Best Mate Safe This Holiday Season

Christmas is a time for celebration, but not all festive foods are safe for our four-legged friends! Here’s your complete guide to keeping your dog happy, healthy, and safe during the holidays.

✅ SAFE CHRISTMAS FOODS FOR DOGS

🦃 Plain Turkey or Chicken
Cooked, unseasoned turkey or chicken (without skin or bones) is a great protein treat. Remove all bones as they can splinter and cause serious harm.

🥕 Carrots
Raw or cooked carrots are excellent low-calorie treats, full of vitamins and great for dental health.

🥔 Plain Potatoes
Cooked potatoes (without butter, salt, or seasoning) are safe in moderation. Avoid raw potatoes completely.

🫐 Blueberries
Fresh blueberries make a healthy, antioxidant-rich snack that most dogs love.

🍠 Sweet Potato
Plain, cooked sweet potato is nutritious and safe. A great source of fiber and vitamins.

🥒 Green Beans
Plain, cooked green beans are a healthy, low-calorie vegetable option for dogs.

🍎 Apple Slices
Remove seeds and core first! Apple slices are a crunchy, refreshing treat.

🎃 Pumpkin
Plain, cooked pumpkin (not pie filling) is excellent for digestion and very safe.

🍌 Banana
In moderation, bananas are a sweet treat packed with potassium.

❌ DANGEROUS CHRISTMAS FOODS FOR DOGS ❌

🍫 Chocolate
HIGHLY TOXIC! Contains theobromine which can cause seizures, heart problems, and death. Dark chocolate is especially dangerous.

🍇 Grapes & Raisins
Can cause severe kidney failure. Even small amounts can be deadly. Found in Christmas pudding, mince pies, and fruit cake.

🧅 Onions & Garlic
Toxic to dogs, causing damage to red blood cells. Found in stuffing, gravy, and many cooked dishes.

🍷 Alcohol
Even small amounts can cause vomiting, breathing difficulties, coma, and death.

🥜 Macadamia Nuts
Can cause weakness, vomiting, tremors, and hyperthermia in dogs.

🦴 Cooked Bones
Splinter easily and can cause choking, internal injuries, or blockages.

🧈 Fatty Foods
Rich foods like gravy, butter, and fatty meat can cause pancreatitis, a serious and painful condition.

🧁 Xylitol (Artificial Sweetener)
Found in sugar-free treats, gum, and baked goods. Causes rapid insulin release leading to liver failure.

🥧 Christmas Pudding & Mince Pies
Contain raisins, sultanas, alcohol, and spices – all dangerous for dogs.

☕ Coffee & Caffeine
Contains caffeine which is toxic to dogs, causing hyperactivity, seizures, and heart problems.

🥓 Salty Foods
Excessive salt can lead to sodium poisoning, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures.

🌰 Nuts (Most Varieties)
High in fat and can cause digestive upset. Some varieties like macadamias are toxic.

⚠️ IMPORTANT REMINDERS

🚨 If your dog eats something toxic, contact your vet immediately!

Keep festive foods out of reach
Warn guests not to feed your dog table scraps
Secure bins and food waste
Be extra vigilant during parties and gatherings
Keep emergency vet numbers handy
Consider giving your dog their own special “Christmas dinner” with safe ingredients