Holiday Pet Safety: A Veterinary Guide to Food, Decorations, Travel and Stress

By Dr Duncan Houston.

The holiday season brings visitors, unfamiliar food, decorations, travel and enough noise to make even the family extrovert consider hiding under the bed.

For dogs and cats, these sudden changes can be confusing, stressful and occasionally dangerous. Planning ahead helps protect your pet while allowing the humans to enjoy themselves without spending Christmas night in an emergency veterinary waiting room.

Quick Answer

To keep your pet safe during the holidays:

Maintain their usual feeding, exercise and toileting routine
Create a quiet retreat before guests arrive
Keep chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol, alcohol and fatty foods inaccessible
Remove ribbons, tinsel, batteries and electrical cords from reach
Check every plant before bringing it into the home
Secure the Christmas tree and prevent access to tree water
Update microchip and identification details
Plan boarding, pet sitting and travel well in advance
Speak with your veterinarian early if your pet fears fireworks, visitors or travel
Contact a veterinarian immediately after any suspected poisoning

Prevention is much easier, cheaper and considerably less dramatic than emergency treatment.

Start Planning Before the Holidays Arrive

Pets thrive on predictability. Their routine may be disrupted when family members travel, guests stay overnight or the household suddenly becomes louder and busier.

Before celebrations begin:

Confirm who will feed, exercise and medicate each pet
Stock enough regular food and medication
Update your veterinary clinic and emergency hospital details
Check that your pet’s microchip registration is current
Ensure dogs and outdoor-access cats wear identification
Book boarding or pet-sitting services early
Prepare a quiet retreat
Discuss known noise or travel anxiety with your veterinarian
Confirm any vaccination, parasite prevention or travel requirements

Do not wait until the afternoon of a fireworks display to request anxiety medication. Behaviour plans and prescribed medications work best when organised and tested in advance.

Create a Safe Holiday Retreat

A safe haven gives your pet somewhere to escape from visitors, children, noise and unfamiliar activity.

Set it up several days before it is needed so the area already feels familiar.

Include:

Comfortable bedding
Fresh water
A hiding place
Familiar toys
Safe food puzzles
A litter tray for cats
Dim lighting
Curtains or blinds
White noise, quiet music or a television
A secure door or baby gate

Allow your pet to enter and leave voluntarily during quiet periods. Feed treats or provide enrichment there so the space develops a positive association.

The safe area must remain off-limits to visitors and children. It is a retreat, not a festive petting zoo.

Recognising Holiday Stress

Some pets make stress very obvious. Others communicate through small changes that are easily missed.

Possible signs include:

Hiding
Trembling or shaking
Panting when it is not hot
Pacing
Whining or excessive vocalisation
Dilated pupils
Flattened ears
Tucked tail
Lip licking or yawning
Refusing food
Reduced play
Irritability
Growling or snapping
Urinating or defecating indoors
Changes in litter tray use
Overgrooming
Trying to escape
Difficulty settling or sleeping

If your pet appears uncomfortable, increase their distance from the activity. Do not force them to greet people, wear costumes or remain in family photos.

A pet walking away is giving a polite answer. Listen before they feel forced to provide a louder one.

Managing Visitors and Parties

Before guests arrive:

Exercise your dog appropriately.
Feed pets at their usual time.
Set up the safe retreat.
Prepare food puzzles or long-lasting enrichment.
secure external doors, gates and windows.
Move food, rubbish and decorations out of reach.
Tell guests how to interact with the pet.

Ask visitors to:

Ignore shy pets initially
Avoid staring, reaching over or hugging
Let the animal approach first
Keep external doors closed
Avoid feeding table scraps
Keep handbags and medication inaccessible
Leave resting pets alone
Supervise children closely

Dogs with a history of fear, guarding, snapping or biting should be safely separated from visitors unless an individual management plan has been developed with a qualified professional.

Children and Pets During Celebrations

Excited children and tired animals are not always a sparkling festive combination.

Children should never:

Disturb a sleeping pet
Enter the pet’s safe retreat
Sit on, climb over or hug the animal
Take away food, chews or toys
Chase a hiding cat
Corner an animal
Interact without adult supervision

Separate the pet before either child or animal becomes overwhelmed. Supervision means an adult is actively watching and close enough to intervene, not discussing cricket scores from the other end of the room.

Dangerous Holiday Foods

Many festive foods can cause poisoning, gastrointestinal obstruction or pancreatitis.

Hazard	Main concern
Chocolate and cocoa	Stimulant toxicity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures
Grapes, raisins and sultanas	Potential acute kidney injury
Xylitol or birch sugar	Severe hypoglycaemia and possible liver injury in dogs
Alcohol	Weakness, vomiting, breathing problems, coma and death
Onion and garlic	Damage to red blood cells
Macadamia nuts	Weakness, tremors and gastrointestinal signs in dogs
Fatty meat and skin	Vomiting, diarrhoea and pancreatitis
Cooked bones	Choking, tooth fractures, obstruction or gastrointestinal injury
Raw yeast dough	Expansion within the stomach and alcohol production
Salt dough decorations	Dangerous salt poisoning
Caffeine	Restlessness, heart rhythm abnormalities, tremors and seizures
Corn cobs and fruit stones	Gastrointestinal obstruction
Human medication	Toxicity that varies according to the drug

The FDA’s holiday hazard guidance warns about chocolate, alcohol, xylitol, fatty table scraps, bones, salt dough, ribbons and other common seasonal dangers.

Xylitol Is an Emergency for Dogs

Xylitol may also appear on labels as:

Birch sugar
Wood sugar
Birch bark extract

It may be found in:

Sugar-free chewing gum
Mints and lollies
Baked goods
Some peanut and nut butters
Toothpaste and mouthwash
Cough medicines
Chewable vitamins
Supplements
Low-sugar desserts

In dogs, xylitol can trigger a rapid insulin release followed by dangerous hypoglycaemia. Some exposures can also cause liver failure and bleeding problems.

The FDA advises contacting a veterinarian immediately if a dog may have eaten a xylitol-containing product.

Do not wait for symptoms to develop.

Keep Food and Rubbish Secure

Problems frequently occur after the meal rather than during it.

Dogs may raid:

Rubbish bins
Food left on benches
Wrapped presents containing chocolate
Handbags containing gum or medication
Roasting trays
Turkey or chicken carcasses
Snack bags

Food bags can create a suffocation hazard if they become sealed around an animal’s nose and mouth.

Once the meal is finished:

Clear plates immediately
Wrap bones and scraps securely
Place rubbish in a lidded bin
Remove food from coffee tables
Check the floor for dropped ingredients
Store leftovers in closed cupboards or the refrigerator

Grandad’s secret habit of feeding the dog under the table also needs to be included in the risk assessment.

Pet-Safe Plants and Flowers

Never assume a festive plant is safe simply because it is sold in a supermarket.

Lilies

True lilies and daylilies can cause severe, potentially fatal kidney injury in cats. Exposure may occur after:

Chewing a leaf or flower
Licking pollen from the coat
Drinking water from the vase

Any suspected lily exposure in a cat requires urgent veterinary attention.

Poinsettias

Poinsettias are commonly described as deadly, but severe poisoning is unusual. Their sap can still cause irritation, drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea, so keep them away from pets.

Holly and Mistletoe

These plants may cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea and reduced appetite. Large mistletoe exposures can produce more serious cardiovascular or neurological effects.

The ASPCA holiday safety guide provides further information about lilies, poinsettias, holly, mistletoe and other seasonal hazards.

When in doubt, choose an artificial plant or confirm the exact botanical name before bringing it home.

Christmas Tree Safety

Christmas trees present several different risks.

Prevent the Tree From Falling

Use a wide, stable base and secure the tree to a wall if necessary. Curious cats can turn a beautifully decorated tree into an indoor logging incident remarkably quickly.

Cover the Tree Water

Tree water may contain bacteria, fertilisers, preservatives or fallen plant material. Prevent pets from drinking it.

Place Decorations Carefully

Keep fragile ornaments away from lower branches. Broken glass and hard plastic can injure the mouth, paws and gastrointestinal tract.

Avoid edible ornaments and decorations made from salt dough.

Protect Electrical Cords

Cover cords and unplug lights when they are not being supervised. Chewed wiring can cause:

Electrical burns
Mouth injuries
Breathing complications
Electrocution
House fires

Tinsel, Ribbon and String

Cats are particularly attracted to thin, shiny and moving objects.

Swallowed ribbon, string or tinsel can become a linear foreign body. It may bunch or cut through the intestines and require emergency surgery.

Keep away:

Tinsel
Gift ribbon
String
Sewing thread
Elastic bands
Fishing line
Decorative yarn

If string is protruding from your pet’s mouth or anus, do not pull it. Contact a veterinarian immediately.

Candles, Batteries and Snow Globes

Candles and Open Flames

Place candles where animals cannot reach or knock them over. Consider using flameless alternatives.

Batteries

Button batteries and larger household batteries can cause severe chemical burns or obstruction if chewed or swallowed.

Snow Globes

Treat leaking or broken snow globes as a potential chemical exposure. Some may contain substances that are dangerous if ingested.

Remove the pet from the area, prevent grooming of contaminated paws or fur and contact a veterinarian for advice.

Choose Safe Gifts for Pets

Not every item marketed for pets is automatically appropriate for every animal.

Before offering a new toy or chew:

Check that it suits your pet’s size and chewing style
Remove tags, ribbon and packaging
Supervise the first use
Check for loose components
Discard damaged toys
Avoid chews hard enough to fracture teeth
Confirm edible products are suitable for your pet’s diet

Treats still contain calories. Reduce the regular meal if your pet receives more treats than usual, particularly if they have obesity, diabetes, gastrointestinal disease or pancreatitis risk.

Costumes and Holiday Photos

Only use costumes if your pet genuinely appears comfortable.

Stop if you notice:

Freezing
Flattened ears
Attempting to escape
Lip licking
Pawing at the outfit
Reduced movement
Panting
Growling
Hiding afterwards

Costumes must not:

Restrict breathing or panting
Limit vision or hearing
Prevent normal movement
Cover toileting areas
Contain chewable decorations
Create a strangulation risk

A festive bandana beside the pet is often safer than turning them into a disgruntled reindeer.

Fireworks and Loud Celebrations

Fireworks can cause panic, escape attempts and serious injury.

The RSPCA Australia recommends planning ahead, keeping pets securely indoors, closing blinds, providing a hiding area and ensuring identification details are current.

Before fireworks begin:

Exercise dogs earlier in the day
Bring pets indoors
Close windows, curtains and blinds
Lock external doors and gates
Provide background noise
Prepare the safe retreat
Offer enrichment if the pet is willing to eat
Check microchip and identification details
Follow any veterinary medication plan

Never:

Take a pet to a fireworks display
Leave a frightened pet outdoors
Tether a panicking dog
Punish fearful behaviour
Force a pet out of hiding
Give human sedatives
Begin unprescribed medication

It is fine to comfort a frightened pet if they seek contact. Remain calm and allow them to choose whether they hide, rest near you or interact.

Ask Your Veterinarian About Medication Early

Some pets need more than music, pheromones and a blanket fort.

Speak with your veterinarian if your pet has previously:

Panicked during fireworks
Attempted to escape
Injured themselves
Destroyed doors or windows
Shaken or panted for prolonged periods
Refused food
Become aggressive when frightened
Taken hours to recover

Your veterinarian may recommend behaviour modification, environmental changes or prescription medication.

When directed, trial prescribed medication on a quiet day before the event. This allows you and your veterinarian to assess its effect without discovering on New Year’s Eve that your dog can now hear colours but is still terrified of fireworks.

Travelling With Your Pet

First decide whether taking your pet is genuinely in their best interests. Many cats and anxious dogs are more comfortable remaining at home with a trusted sitter.

If your pet is travelling, prepare:

Secure carrier, crate or vehicle restraint
Identification tag
Microchip documentation
Vaccination and health records
Regular food
Fresh water
Bowls
Enough medication for the entire trip
Extra medication in case of delays
Bedding that smells familiar
Litter and a tray for cats
Waste bags
Cleaning supplies
Veterinary and emergency contact details
Any required health certificates

The AVMA travel checklist recommends carrying identification, microchip documentation and all medication required during the trip.

Never leave an animal unattended in a parked vehicle.

Boarding and Pet-Sitter Preparation

Book early and provide written instructions covering:

Feeding quantities and times
Medication names, doses and schedules
Exercise requirements
Toileting or litter routines
Behavioural triggers
Handling preferences
Allergies and medical conditions
Your regular veterinarian
Your preferred emergency hospital
Your contact details
A backup decision-maker
Financial authorisation for emergency care

Confirm that the sitter knows where the carrier, lead and medication are kept.

If possible, introduce your pet to the sitter before you leave. Trial visits or short stays can expose problems while you are still available to solve them.

When to Contact a Veterinarian Urgently

Seek immediate veterinary advice if your pet:

May have eaten xylitol, chocolate, grapes, raisins or medication
Has been exposed to lilies, particularly if they are a cat
Swallows ribbon, tinsel, string, batteries or decorations
Has repeated vomiting or diarrhoea
Develops abdominal pain or swelling
Becomes weak, wobbly or unusually quiet
Trembles or has a seizure
Has difficulty breathing
Chokes or drools excessively
Collapses
Receives an electrical burn
Is injured while escaping
Cannot urinate
Stops eating, particularly if they are a cat

Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian or animal poison specialist specifically instructs you to do so.

Take the product packaging, plant sample or photograph with you when safe. Knowing exactly what was eaten can make treatment faster and more accurate.

A Simple Holiday Checklist

One to Four Weeks Before

Book veterinary appointments, boarding or pet sitters
Refill medication
Check vaccinations and travel requirements
Update microchip details
Discuss anxiety or motion sickness
Prepare the safe retreat

The Day Before

Secure decorations and electrical cords
Remove dangerous plants
Check gates, doors and windows
Store toxic foods safely
Prepare enrichment
Confirm emergency contact details

During the Celebration

Maintain normal meals and toileting
Supervise children
Keep rubbish secure
Monitor stress signals
Give the pet access to their retreat
Check doors whenever guests arrive or leave

After Guests Leave

Collect ribbon, string and broken decorations
Remove leftover food and alcohol
Empty accessible rubbish
Check the pet for injuries or unusual behaviour
Return to the normal routine

Frequently Asked Questions

Can pets eat a small amount of Christmas dinner?

A small portion of plain, lean, boneless meat may be suitable for some healthy pets. Avoid skin, fat, gravy, stuffing, onion, garlic, cooked bones and heavily seasoned food.

Are poinsettias deadly?

They usually cause mild to moderate irritation rather than severe poisoning. Keep them out of reach and contact your veterinarian if signs develop.

Should I comfort my pet during fireworks?

Yes, if they seek comfort. Calm reassurance does not create fear. Allow your pet to choose contact or hiding without forcing interaction.

Can I give my pet a human sleeping tablet?

No. Human medications can be dangerous and may produce unpredictable effects. Use only medication prescribed specifically for that pet.

Is boarding better than travelling?

It depends on the individual animal. Some pets cope well with travel, while others are safer and less stressed at home with a trusted sitter.

What if my cat hides throughout the party?

Allow them to hide in a safe location. Ensure they can reach water and a litter tray without crossing a crowded area.

Should I change my pet’s routine during the holidays?

Keep meals, exercise, medication, sleep and toileting as consistent as possible. Predictability can reduce stress.

Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

A safe holiday does not require excluding your pet from every celebration. It requires recognising that their idea of festive fun may involve a quiet room, their usual dinner and absolutely nobody placing antlers on their head.

Prepare early, protect their routine and remove hazards before the household becomes busy. If your pet has a history of fear, illness or dietary indiscretion, speak with your veterinarian before the celebrations begin.

A little planning can prevent poisoning, injury, escape and unnecessary stress while giving every member of the household a happier holiday.

Need Personalised Holiday Advice? ASK A VET™

Holiday risks vary according to your pet’s species, age, health, medication and behaviour. Generic advice cannot always tell you whether a specific food, plant, decoration or symptom is dangerous.

With ASK A VET™, you can:

Ask about possible food or plant exposures
Discuss fireworks, visitors and travel anxiety
Prepare a personalised holiday safety plan
Review medication and boarding arrangements
Get guidance when your pet develops concerning symptoms
Find out when urgent in-person veterinary care is required

Visit AskAVet.com or download the ASK A VET™ app for professional support throughout the holiday season.

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About the author

Dr Duncan Houston

Veterinarian · Founder of ASK A VET

Every ASK A VET article is written and reviewed by qualified veterinarians.

About Dr. Duncan →drduncanthevet

Holiday Pet Safety: A Veterinary Guide to Food, Decorations, Travel and Stress