7 Christmas Hazards in Your Home That Could Harm Your Dog
Updated: 4 days ago
Christmas turns a quiet home into a busy mix of visitors, food and decorations. For us it's exciting. For a dog, everything changes overnight, with new smells, new objects at nose height and tempting food left on every surface. Many dogs explore with their mouths, so things that look harmless to us can be a real risk to them. Christmas is also one of the busiest times of year for vets. Management is always going to be your friend, so a baby gate and a quiet room are worth their weight in gold. Here are seven common Christmas hazards in the home, why they matter and the simple steps that keep your dog safe.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The seven most common Christmas hazards for dogs are the tree and decorations, toxic foods, festive plants, wrapping paper and gift packaging, batteries and small toys, alcohol and drinks, and the stress of busy days. Secure the tree, keep breakable decorations high and leave tinsel off. Keep chocolate, raisins, grapes, mince pies, Christmas cake, onions, garlic, cooked bones, fatty leftovers and xylitol well out of reach, and ask guests not to feed your dog. Keep mistletoe, holly, ivy, lilies and poinsettia away from your dog. Tidy up wrapping paper, ribbons, batteries and small toys as you go, and keep drinks off low tables. Give your dog a quiet place to rest and keep their routine as normal as you can. If your dog eats something worrying, ring your vet straight away.
IN THIS POST
ā 1. The tree and decorations
ā 2. Toxic foods
ā 4. Wrapping paper and packaging
ā 5. Batteries and small toys
ā If your dog eats something
ā FAQs
1. The tree and decorations
The tree is new, it smells interesting and it's covered in dangling things. Pine needles can upset tummies and get stuck in paws, and the water in the stand can contain sap and bacteria.
Secure the tree so it can't topple. Keep glass and breakable decorations high, use unbreakable ones on the lower branches and leave tinsel off, as it can cause blockages if swallowed. Cover the water in the stand. Read dog-friendly decorating ideas.
2. Toxic foods
Food is the biggest cause of Christmas vet visits. Plates, tins and boxes are everywhere, and dogs are quick. Several festive favourites are toxic to dogs:
chocolate: especially dark chocolate and cocoa
raisins, sultanas, currants and grapes: in mince pies, Christmas cake, pudding and stollen
onions, garlic, leeks and chives: often in stuffing and gravy
macadamia nuts and mouldy food: including old leftovers in the bin
xylitol: in some sugar-free sweets, gum and baking
cooked bones and fatty leftovers: can splinter or cause pancreatitis
Keep food out of reach, clear plates straight away and use a bin with a lid. Read what not to feed your dog at Christmas dinner.
3. Festive plants
Several Christmas plants can make dogs unwell. Mistletoe and holly can cause vomiting, drooling and tummy upsets. Ivy can irritate the mouth and gut, and lilies and amaryllis are also harmful.
Poinsettia usually causes milder irritation, but it's still best kept out of reach. Choose artificial plants, or put real ones up high where your dog can't get to them.
4. Wrapping paper and packaging
Wrapping paper, ribbon, string, sticky tape, tags and plastic packaging all look like fun to a dog. Small amounts of paper usually pass, but ribbon, string and plastic can cause dangerous blockages.
Keep a bin bag next to you when presents are opened and pick things up as you go. Silica gel sachets and small plastic parts from toys should go straight in the bin.
5. Batteries and small toys
New toys and gadgets often come with batteries. Button batteries are especially dangerous, as they can cause serious burns inside the mouth and gut within hours.
Keep spare batteries in a closed drawer and check gadgets have secure battery covers. Children's toys with small parts should be put away when your dog is around.
6. Alcohol and drinks
Drinks left on low tables are easy for a dog to reach. Alcohol is dangerous for dogs, even in small amounts, and creamy liqueurs and eggnog can be very tempting.
Keep glasses up high and empty them before bed. Coffee and caffeine drinks are also harmful, so keep mugs out of reach too.
7. Stress and busy days
Christmas often means visitors, noise, late nights and changes to routine. Some dogs love it. Others find it a lot.
Watch for signs your dog is struggling, like lip licking, yawning, pacing, hiding or not settling. Give them a quiet room with their bed, water and a chew, and let them choose whether to join in. Read holiday stress in dogs.
If your dog eats something
If your dog eats something worrying, ring your vet straight away, even if they seem fine. Have the packet or a description ready, and tell them how much your dog ate and when.
Don't try to make your dog sick unless your vet tells you to. Check your vet's opening hours over Christmas, and save the number of your nearest out-of-hours vet in your phone before the holidays start.
RENEE'S TIP
Before the visitors arrive, do a two-minute "nose-height check". Crouch down and look around each room from your dog's height. You'll spot chocolates on the coffee table, cables behind the tree and handbags on the floor that you'd never notice standing up.
QUICK CHECK
ā Secure the tree and leave tinsel off
ā Keep toxic foods and drinks well out of reach
ā Keep festive plants up high or use artificial ones
ā Pick up wrapping, ribbon, batteries and small parts as you go
ā Save your out-of-hours vet's number before Christmas
FREE DOWNLOAD FROM RENEE
Christmas with Your Dog
A free guide with the Christmas dangers to know about, a plan for the busy days and who to ring if your dog needs a vet on Christmas Day.
ONE-TO-ONE HELP
Help with a dog who finds Christmas hard
If your dog struggles with visitors, noise or busy days, I can help you plan a calmer Christmas in an online Dog Behaviour Consultation from wherever you are.
Online on Teams, wherever you are. 30 or 60 minutes.
FAQs
What Christmas foods are toxic to dogs?
Chocolate, raisins, grapes, mince pies, Christmas cake, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts and xylitol.
Is tinsel dangerous for dogs?
Yes. It can cause blockages if swallowed. Leave it off or keep it high.
Are Christmas plants poisonous to dogs?
Mistletoe, holly, ivy, lilies and amaryllis can all make dogs unwell.
What should I do if my dog eats chocolate?
Ring your vet straight away, with the type and amount your dog ate.
How can I keep my dog calm at Christmas?
Keep their routine steady and give them a quiet room with their bed and a chew.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Renee Patience Ā· National Dog Trainer of the Year 2025
Founder and head trainer of Paws Academy, with more than 30 years training dogs and a Level 6 Diploma in Applied Canine Behaviour. Renee has competed in agility, obedience and heelwork to music across the UK, including at Crufts and Olympia, has appeared on CBBC, and is the author of the Modern Training Guides and the Modern Breed Handbook series. Pictured with her boxer, Kookie.
