Christmas dog safety UK: a checklist for food, the tree, visitors and decorations

Christmas puts a lot of temptation at nose height. There's food on every surface, a tree full of dangly things, presents under it and visitors coming and going. Most festive mishaps with dogs are avoidable with a bit of planning. This checklist covers the main risks and what to do if something goes wrong.

It isn't a complete list of everything that can hurt a dog. If you're ever unsure whether something is safe, ask your vet.

If your dog eats something it shouldn't

Start here, because it's the part that matters most:

• Contact your vet straight away, or your local out-of-hours vet if it's late or a bank holiday. Don't wait to see if symptoms appear.
• Don't try to make your dog sick unless a vet tells you to.
• Have the details ready: what they ate, roughly how much, when, and your dog's approximate weight. Keep the packaging or wrapper if you can.
• Know your out-of-hours vet before the holidays. Many practices run reduced hours over Christmas. Save the out-of-hours number in your phone now.

In the UK, the Animal PoisonLine is another service owners can contact for advice about poisoning, but your vet should always be your first call.

Festive foods that are dangerous for dogs

Keep all of these out of reach, and tell visitors not to share:

• Chocolate, including chocolate coins, selection boxes and chocolate tree decorations. Dark chocolate and cocoa are the most dangerous.
• Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants, which means mince pies, Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, stollen and some stuffings.
• Onions, garlic, leeks and chives, which turn up in stuffing, gravy and many leftovers.
• Xylitol, a sweetener (sometimes listed as birch sugar) found in some sugar-free sweets, chewing gum, baked goods and peanut butters.
• Macadamia nuts, often found in festive biscuits and nut selections.
• Alcohol, including half-finished drinks left on a coffee table.
• Cooked bones, especially turkey bones, which can splinter.
• Fatty leftovers, like turkey skin, pigs in blankets and roast trimmings. Rich food can cause stomach upsets, and in some dogs more serious problems.

Bins are a big risk on Christmas Day. A bin full of turkey carcass, foil and cocktail sticks is very appealing. Put it somewhere your dog can't reach, and take full bags outside promptly.

The tree and decorations

• Secure the tree. A weighted base, or a cord tying it to a wall hook, stops an excited dog pulling it over.
• Hang breakables higher up. Glass baubles break into sharp pieces. Keep them out of tail-wagging height, or use shatterproof ones.
• Skip edible decorations. Chocolate ornaments and salt-dough decorations shouldn't hang where a dog can reach them. Salt dough can be dangerous if eaten.
• Tinsel, ribbon and string. These can cause serious problems if swallowed. Keep them high up or leave them out.
• Lights and cables. Tuck cables away from chewing reach, and switch lights off when nobody's in the room.
• Batteries. Small button batteries from toys and remote controls are very dangerous if swallowed. Keep spares and new gadgets away from the floor.
• Real trees. Sweep up fallen needles, and cover the water in the stand so your dog can't drink it.

Presents under the tree

Dogs can smell food through wrapping paper. Don't put edible gifts, especially chocolate, under the tree. As presents are opened, clear up wrapping, ribbon, tape, packaging and the little silica gel sachets that come in boxes. If your dog is getting a present, see our stocking fillers guide and the Christmas gifts for dogs guide for ideas that are sized and safe.

Festive plants

Some popular seasonal plants can upset a dog's stomach or worse if chewed, including holly, mistletoe, ivy and poinsettia. Lilies are especially dangerous for cats, so take care if you share your home with one. Keep plants and fallen berries out of reach, and check with your vet or a reliable pet-safety source before bringing a new plant into the house.

Visitors, doors and noise

• Brief your guests. Ask visitors not to feed your dog from their plates, and to keep handbags and coats (which often hold sweets, gum or medicines) off the floor.
• Watch the front door. With people coming and going, it's easy for a dog to slip out. A baby gate in the hallway, or a quiet room with the door closed, helps. Check your dog's ID tag and microchip details are up to date.
• Give them a retreat. A quiet room away from the busiest part of the house, with their bed, water and something to chew, lets your dog take a break. Ask children to leave the dog alone when they go there.
• Medicines. Visitors' tablets left on a bedside table or in an open bag are a risk. Ask guests to keep them out of reach.

Keep your dog busy (with their own food)

A busy dog is less likely to go looking for trouble. Prepare a few activities using their usual food, so they have something to do while you cook or eat:

• A frozen lick mat like the LickiMat Soother, or a frozen lick made in a silicone mould. See how to use a lick mat.
• A stuffed and frozen KONG Classic. There are fillings in how to stuff a rubber treat toy.
• A suitably sized chew like the Benebone Wishbone, under supervision. Read our chew safety guide first.
• A cardboard box forage with scrunched paper and a few pieces of kibble.

If your house will be busy for days, our winter indoor enrichment guide has more ideas. New Year's Eve fireworks are on the way too, so the fireworks plan is worth a look before the 31st.

FAQ

Can dogs eat turkey at Christmas? Plain, cooked turkey meat with no skin, bones, gravy or seasoning is generally fine for most dogs in small amounts. Skin, fat, bones, stuffing and gravy are best avoided. If your dog has a sensitive stomach or a health condition, ask your vet first.

Are Christmas trees poisonous to dogs? Needles can irritate a dog's mouth and stomach if eaten, and the water in the stand may contain additives. The bigger risks are usually the decorations, lights and cables, and edible gifts underneath.

What should I do if my dog eats chocolate? Contact your vet straight away. Tell them what type of chocolate it was, roughly how much, and when. Don't wait for symptoms.

Are mince pies bad for dogs? Yes. Mince pies usually contain raisins, sultanas and currants, which are dangerous for dogs. Keep them out of reach.

Wrapping up

Keep festive food and bins out of reach, secure the tree, tidy up decorations and wrapping, brief your visitors, and save your out-of-hours vet's number before the holidays start. If your dog eats something it shouldn't, call the vet straight away. This guide isn't veterinary advice.