Common Christmas Dangers for Pets

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Common Christmas Dangers For Pets

Christmas is a time of joy and cheer for everyone in the family, including our pets. However, what we as people take for a tasty Christmas treat or a beautiful piece of decor, can pose a risk to our furry friends. Make sure your holiday season is full of happiness for everyone by familiarising yourself with some of the most common Christmas hazards for pets.

Contents:

Toxic Festive Food
Toxic Festive Plants
Other Christmas Dangers for Pets
Protecting Your Pet This Christmas

A light brown floppy-eared dog licking their lips in front of a christmas tree

Christmas Food Dangers for Pets

One of the best parts of Christmas is the food, and with all these delicious treats being handed out, it’s only natural for dogs to want in on the action.

While sneaking your dog a little slice of turkey may not do any harm, some Christmas foods are toxic to our pets and cause severe internal damage and even death if ingested.

Chocolate

It’s well-known that chocolate is toxic to dogs, and while it may not always be fatal if ingested, it can cause serious illness as it contains the chemical theobromine. Neither cats nor dogs can metabolise theobromine as well as people can, which means they are far more sensitive to the effects this chemical has as a heart stimulant, blood vessel dilator, and smooth muscle relaxant.

Christmas Puddings & Mince Pies

These festive treats contain a variety of dried fruits such as raisins and currants. Grapes alone are toxic to dogs, and some evidence has shown they are toxic to cats as well, and dried fruits are thought to be even more so. Always make sure you keep all christmas treats containing dried ruits far from reach, such as in a high cupboard.

Onions

Onions (as well as garlic, leeks, shallots and chives) are part of the allium family, which are known toxins for pets as they contain a chemical called N-propyl disulfide, which can damage your pet’s red blood cells and lead to life-threatening anaemia. Onions are toxic to pets in any form, including fresh, fried and even powdered, and are used in various festive foods, including stuffing and other dishes. It only takes 100g of onion per 20 kg of body weight for your dog to suffer these severe effects.

Alcohol

While alcohol isn’t exactly healthy for humans in high volumes, alcoholic beverages in any capacity are dangerous to cats and dogs. Ingesting alcohol can cause a dangerous drop in your pet’s blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature and can even potentially lead to seizures or respiratory failure. Never give your dog or cat alcohol in any form, including any foods that contain alcohol.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are a common ingredient in many baked goods throughout the year, but they’re also listed as one of the top toxins for dogs. They can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, tremors, and fever. While it’s unknown what causes this reaction in the macadamia nut, and it doesn’t seem to affect cats, it is best to keep any food containing macadamia nuts out of reach of any pets in your household to be safe.

Leftovers

It can be tempting to reduce food waste by offering Christmas leftovers to your dog, but you should avoid doing so as they could contain any one of the above-mentioned toxins as well as any other known food toxins to your pet without you realising it. Make sure all leftovers are kept out of your pet’s reach, and if you do want to offer them something special on Christmas day, stick to cat or dog treats or offer them some skinless and boneless turkey that hasn’t had any cross-contamination with stuffing or other toxic additives.

A grey and white tabby cat sitting in a cream armchair looking at a christmas poinsetta plant.

Toxic Festive Plants

Nothing beats decking the halls with Christmas decorations and plants, but some of these things can be more dangerous to your pets than you realise.

Many indoor plants are toxic to pets, and these festive ones are no exception.

Mistletoe

This shrub is a popular Christmas decoration. While certain parts of the plant are not toxic, some are, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your pet’s health. Some animals that ingest parts of the mistletoe plant may not show any signs of poisoning, but others can show common poison symptoms such as drooling, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Poinsettia

This lovely, leafy Christmas plant is a member of the euphorbia family, which are well-known toxic plants, and poinsettia has a particularly high reputation for being toxic to pets. The sap, in particular, can cause pets to drool or suffer mild vomiting or diarrhoea if ingested.

Holly

Holly is a very popular Christmas decoration, and its most obvious danger is the sharp-edged leaves, which can puncture the delicate insides of your pet’s mouth and will likely stop them from eating too much, but it can also harm your pet. Holly berries have toxic effects on pets that result in irritation in your pet’s mouth, vomiting or diarrhoea, so it’s best to avoid having real holly in the home during Christmas.

Ivy

This plant is a popular indoor choice because of how the branches and leaves hang down. Still, it is also a standard inclusion in Christmas decorations, particularly wreaths or other displays.

Ivy is toxic to most living things because it contains saponins and polyacetylene compounds. However, pets and children are at much higher risk of poisoning from either ingestion or touch. Ivy can cause stomach upsets and even severe skin irritation or allergic dermatitis.

Christmas Trees

Many types of Christmas trees have relatively low toxicity to pets. However, the natural oils in the needles can irritate your pet’s mouth and stomach and vomiting, drooling, and diarrhoea may occur if ingested. Pine needles are also small and sharp and can easily cause damage to your pet’s mouth and throat if eaten or swallowed, or prick their feet if trodden on once the needles fall off.

Christmas trees can also be a real temptation for cats, who are easily tempted by the twinkling lights, hanging decorations and the innate need to climb. If you want to find effective ways to keep your cat safe and away from the Christmas tree, check out our Cat Proofing Your Christmas Tree guide here.

Other Christmas Dangers to Pets

While we’ve talked about the things that are outright toxic to your pets, there are several other things you should be wary of this Christmas that can be hazardous to your pets, including:

Christmas Lights - These lively, flickering lights give a festive feel to any home, but they can easily draw your pet's attention as well. If you have a pet prone to chewing things, they can quickly get their teeth sunk into any wiring and risk electrocution. Those tiny bulbs can also get hot if left on for long periods, which increases the risk of your pet being burned, so make sure they’re kept out of your pet’s way and are never left on around pets without supervision.
Decorations - Baubles can be irresistible to pets (they look like balls, after all), leading to your pet trying to play with or bite them. Baubles are often made of thin plastic that can shatter under pressure, which can cut your pet’s mouth or feet if they bite or walk over them. If swallowed, these broken pieces can cause more internal damage as they work through your pet’s insides.
Wrapping Paper - Pets love to chew things you don’t want them to, and discarded wrapping paper is very high on that list. While some wrapping papers (such as plain wrapping paper or crepe paper) won’t harm your pet if they chew it, other paper can be imbued with chemicals to make them colourful or sparkly, and these things can be toxic to pets, so it’s best to keep them out of your pet’s mouth.
Silica Gel - Any gift you buy may also have silica gel in it in some capacity, usually a small paper packet of beads meant to control humidity and avoid any spoilage of the goods they’re packaged. These packets always have warning labels saying not to eat them, but since your pet can’t read, the odds of them seeing these packets as tasty little snacks are very likely. While it may take a lot of silica gel actually to poison your pet if ingested, these little packets can quickly become lodged in your pet and cause blockages to the respiratory or digestive system, which can have dangerous, if not fatal, consequences.

A white and tan Jack Russell Terrier and a white and tabby cat snuggled on a fluffy bed together in front of a lit tree

Tips to Protect Your Pet This Christmas

There are several ways to stop your pet from eating something toxic and keep them safe this Christmas, and the easiest option is avoidance. By not having any potential toxins in the home or keeping your pet away from them, you can ensure there’s no chance of accidental ingestion and keep your pet happy and healthy this Christmas. But that doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice the Christmas spirit! Here are some of our top tips on keeping your pet lear of Christmas dangers this year:

Opt for artificial plants - Whether it’s Christmas trees or decorative indoor plants, there is a great range of artificial options available on the market today that are far safer for your pets and reduce any risks of ingestion or damage to both your pets and the decorations.
Restrict your pet’s access - If you are dead set on a real pine tree, or you want to keep your pet safe from the Christmas goodies, the other option is to limit where your pet has access to in the home for this period. Keep your pets out of the kitchen while you’re cooking Christmas dinner and keep any other foods safely tucked away in cupboards or the refrigerator until it’s time to eat them. If you have your Christmas tree in a central room in your home, try putting up a fire gate or some kind of barrier that keeps your pet away.
Clean up quickly - It’s very hard for pets to eat things when they’re not there, so make sure you always clean up your Christmas mess as quickly as possible. Whether it’s wrapping paper, leftovers or food, the less time these things stay in your pet’s vicinity, the less likely they are to be tempted by them.
Keep them distracted - Another great way to keep your pet’s attention off things they shouldn’t focus on is by keeping them distracted, and toys are the best way to do that. Cat toys infused with catnip can help distract them from the twinkling temptation of the tree, and dog toys are a great alternative for them to chew.

What To Do If Your Pet Eats Something Toxic

If your pet has eaten something toxic or anything that wasn’t food, it is essential that you contact your vet immediately and have them seen.

Depending on what your pet has eaten, they may need intravenous medication to flush their systems or even surgery to remove any internal blockages.

You can also call the Animal PoisonLine, which offers 24-hour advice from trained veterinarians on what to do if you think your pet has eaten something toxic.

Christmas is a time of merriment, and by being aware of these common Christmas dangers, you can ensure the whole family has a safe and happy Christmas season to remember.

If you’re looking for ways to treat your pet this holiday season, why not take a look at Winter Essentials, which offers a range of toys, foods, and supplements to keep those tails wagging whatever the weather?

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Hannah Clark

Digital Content & Email Marketing Executive

Hannah has worked at Pet Drugs Online for 3 years researching, writing, and publishing all of our blog content. She currently lives in Cardiff with her 4 year old domestic longhair, Margot, and 1 year old Cavapoo, Merida.

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