Holiday Pet Safety: How to Keep Dogs and Cats Safe at Christmas

Holiday Pet Safety: How to Keep Dogs and Cats Safe at Christmas

By Dr Duncan Houston

Christmas changes almost everything pets rely on. Meals happen at unusual times, unfamiliar people enter the home, doors open repeatedly, decorations appear overnight and fireworks may begin without warning.

Some pets enjoy the extra attention. Others become frightened, overexcited or physically unwell. Holiday food, ribbons, batteries, toxic plants and unsecured rubbish can also turn a celebration into an emergency veterinary visit.

The safest approach is to plan for your individual pet rather than expecting them to enjoy every activity. For many animals, a quiet room and their normal dinner will be far more enjoyable than being placed in the middle of a crowded party.

Quick Answer

Keep your pet’s routine as predictable as possible, prepare a secure retreat before visitors arrive and prevent access to food, rubbish, decorations, medicines and guest belongings. Update identification details, plan for fireworks and organise travel or boarding well in advance.

Contact a veterinarian or animal poisons service immediately if your pet eats chocolate, grapes or raisins, xylitol, medication, a toxic plant, a battery, antifreeze, ribbon or another potentially hazardous item. Do not wait for symptoms and do not induce vomiting unless a veterinary professional specifically instructs you to do so.

Why Holidays Can Be Dangerous for Pets

Holiday celebrations often combine several risks at once:

• Toxic food and alcohol within reach

• Bones, skewers, wrappers and rubbish

• Tinsel, ribbon and other foreign-body hazards

• Electrical cords, candles and breakable decorations

• Visitors repeatedly opening doors

• Children or unfamiliar animals approaching pets

• Fireworks and loud gatherings

• Interrupted feeding, medication and toileting routines

• Travel, boarding or unfamiliar accommodation

The AVMA holiday pet safety guide recommends planning for food, decoration, visitor, identification and travel risks before celebrations begin.

Which Pets Need Extra Holiday Planning?

Any pet can encounter a holiday hazard, but some require a more detailed plan.

Risk level	Examples	Preparation needed
Lower	Relaxed adult pet with no significant medical or behavioural history	Routine pet-proofing, secure identification and a quiet retreat
Moderate	Young, elderly or recently adopted pet; mild noise sensitivity; gastrointestinal disease; anxiety around visitors	Advance safe-space preparation, closer supervision and veterinary advice where needed
Higher	Previous escape attempt, severe firework fear, bite history, separation anxiety, seizures, diabetes, heart disease or medication dependence	Written safety plan, secure separation and veterinary consultation before the event
Immediate concern	Suspected toxin exposure, swallowed string or battery, breathing difficulty, collapse, seizure, repeated vomiting or injury	Contact an emergency veterinarian immediately

A pet who coped last Christmas may respond differently this time, particularly after illness, ageing, moving house, adoption or a frightening experience.

Start With a Holiday Safety Plan

Several weeks before the event:

1. Check your pet’s identification tag and microchip contact details.

2. Confirm medication and prescription food supplies will last through clinic and pharmacy closures.

3. Save your regular veterinarian’s number and identify the nearest open emergency clinic.

4. Prepare a quiet retreat and help your pet form a positive association with it.

5. Discuss previous noise fear, travel sickness or anxiety with your veterinarian.

6. Confirm vaccination, parasite prevention and documentation requirements for boarding or travel.

7. Tell guests about feeding, handling and door-management rules before they arrive.

Behavioural medication, carrier training and gradual noise desensitisation cannot be introduced properly five minutes before the fireworks begin.

Create a Safe Holiday Retreat

A safe retreat gives your pet somewhere to avoid noise, crowds and unwanted interaction.

Choose a familiar, secure and well-ventilated room away from the entrance and busiest part of the home. Include:

• Comfortable bedding and familiar scents

• Fresh water

• A litter tray for cats, positioned away from food and water

• A hiding place or covered bed

• Elevated resting options for cats

• Safe toys or food enrichment your pet already knows how to use

• Curtains or blinds to reduce flashes and outside movement

• Gentle background noise if your pet finds it calming

• A clear sign asking guests not to enter or open the door

Introduce the room before the holiday. Feed treats or meals there and allow your pet to explore without immediately shutting them inside.

A crate may help a dog who is already relaxed and comfortable in one. It should not suddenly be used to confine a frightened dog who has never been crate trained or who panics when trapped.

Check the room for cleaning products, electrical cords, medicines, sewing supplies, open windows and small objects. A quiet cupboard full of chemicals is not a safe zone, despite the excellent acoustics.

Maintain Routine and Appropriate Enrichment

Predictability can help reduce stress. Try to maintain normal:

• Feeding times

• Toilet breaks and litter-tray access

• Walks and play sessions

• Medication schedules

• Sleeping periods

• Quiet contact with familiar people

Exercise and toilet dogs before guests arrive or before fireworks are expected. Avoid exhausting your pet in an attempt to make them sleep through the event. Overtired animals may become more irritable or aroused.

Puzzle feeders, scent games, food-filled toys and appropriate chews may help some pets settle. Use only items suitable for your pet and safe for the degree of supervision available.

Do not worry if a frightened pet refuses treats. Food refusal may indicate that anxiety is already too high. Create more distance from the disturbance and allow your pet to hide rather than repeatedly pushing food towards them.

Christmas Foods That Can Harm Pets

Keep serving dishes away from table edges, ask guests not to feed pets and use bins with secure lids. Wrapped edible gifts must also remain off the floor because a dog’s nose is not fooled by decorative paper.

Food or substance	Main concern
Chocolate, cocoa and caffeine	Vomiting, restlessness, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors and seizures
Grapes, raisins, sultanas and Zante currants	Potential acute kidney injury in dogs
Xylitol, birch sugar or wood sugar	Rapid, potentially life-threatening hypoglycaemia in dogs and possible liver injury
Onion, garlic, leek and chives	Gastrointestinal irritation and oxidative damage to red blood cells
Alcohol	Poor coordination, hypoglycaemia, hypothermia, respiratory depression, coma
Raw yeast dough	Stomach expansion and alcohol production during fermentation
Macadamia nuts	Weakness, poor coordination, tremors, vomiting and increased temperature in dogs
Fatty meat, skin, gravy and rich leftovers	Vomiting, diarrhoea and possible pancreatitis
Cooked bones, skewers, corn cobs and fruit stones	Choking, obstruction or gastrointestinal injury
Cannabis, nicotine and human medication	Potentially serious poisoning depending on the substance and dose
Salt-dough decorations	Sodium poisoning, potentially causing tremors, seizures or coma
Food and snack bags	Suffocation if the bag becomes sealed around the face

The FDA’s household hazard guide includes chocolate, alcohol, grapes, raisins, onion, garlic, macadamia nuts, xylitol, raw yeast products and fatty food among common risks.

Chocolate toxicity varies with the type and amount eaten, with cocoa powder, cooking chocolate and dark chocolate generally posing greater risks than milk chocolate. The Merck Veterinary Manual’s chocolate guidance explains why the pet’s weight and the product’s methylxanthine concentration matter.

Xylitol can also appear in sugar-free sweets, baked products, chewing gum, toothpaste, medication and some nut butters. The FDA advises contacting a veterinarian immediately if a dog may have eaten a xylitol-containing product.

Grape and raisin toxicity is unpredictable. Dogs may develop vomiting followed by acute kidney injury, and serious signs can be delayed. Merck’s grape and raisin guidance recommends prompt assessment and treatment after concerning exposures.

Can Pets Have Any Christmas Dinner?

A small amount of plain, lean, boneless cooked meat may be tolerated by some healthy dogs and cats, but it is not appropriate for every pet.

Avoid:

• Skin and fatty trimmings

• Gravy and stuffing

• Onion or garlic

• Cooked bones

• Skewers and kitchen string

• Rich sauces and seasoning

• Large or sudden dietary changes

Pets with pancreatitis, gastrointestinal disease, allergies or prescription diets should remain on their usual food unless their veterinarian advises otherwise.

Christmas Plants and Floral Arrangements

Not every festive plant carries the same risk.

Lilies and Cats

True lilies and daylilies are veterinary emergencies for cats. Leaves, petals, pollen and vase water can all be hazardous, and even small exposures may cause acute kidney failure.

If a cat may have chewed a lily, brushed against the pollen or drunk the vase water, contact a veterinarian immediately. Do not wait for vomiting or lethargy. The FDA’s lily safety guidance explains that early veterinary treatment is critical.

Mistletoe, Holly and Amaryllis

These plants may cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort. More serious cardiovascular, respiratory or neurological effects can occur with some exposures. Amaryllis bulbs generally contain higher concentrations of toxic compounds than other parts of the plant.

Poinsettia

Poinsettia has a fierce reputation, but exposure more commonly causes mild oral or gastrointestinal irritation rather than severe poisoning.

It should still be kept out of reach, but it does not belong in the same emergency category as lily exposure in a cat. The FDA’s holiday hazard guidance outlines the different risks associated with poinsettia, holly and mistletoe.

When the plant species is uncertain, photograph it or retain a sample safely for identification.

Christmas Decoration Hazards

Tinsel, Ribbon and String

Cats are particularly attracted to moving, string-like objects. If swallowed, these materials can become anchored under the tongue or within the gastrointestinal tract, producing a linear foreign body that damages or perforates the bowel.

Contact a veterinarian promptly if ribbon, tinsel, thread or string is missing or appears to have been swallowed. Do not pull material protruding from the mouth or anus.

Electrical Cords and Lights

Chewed wires can cause burns, electric shock, breathing problems and fire. Use cord covers, unplug decorations when unsupervised and physically block access rather than relying on deterrent sprays alone.

Switch off the electricity before approaching an animal in contact with a live wire. Any suspected electrical injury warrants urgent veterinary advice, even if your pet initially appears normal.

Batteries

Batteries can cause severe tissue burns, gastrointestinal obstruction and metal toxicity. Button batteries may injure the oesophagus rapidly.

Treat any suspected chewing or ingestion as urgent.

Christmas Trees and Ornaments

Secure the tree to reduce the risk of it falling. Cover tree water and do not add fertilisers or preservatives unless they are confirmed to be safe around animals.

Place fragile ornaments, metal hooks and edible decorations beyond reach. Plastic ornaments are not automatically pet-safe because chewed pieces may still cause choking or obstruction.

Candles, Heaters and Fireplaces

Use barriers around flames and hot surfaces. Never leave a pet unattended with a lit candle. Wagging tails, climbing cats and festive tablecloths make a surprisingly efficient fire-starting committee.

Snow Globes and Liquid Decorations

Some snow globes may contain ethylene glycol or other hazardous chemicals. If one breaks, prevent pets from accessing the liquid and contact a veterinarian or animal poisons service if exposure is possible.

Essential Oils and Liquid Potpourri

Concentrated oils can cause oral, skin, respiratory or systemic toxicity, depending on the product and route of exposure. Keep containers and diffusers inaccessible, clean spills promptly and ensure adequate ventilation.

Salt-Dough Ornaments

Salt-dough ornaments may contain enough sodium to cause serious poisoning if eaten. Display them where pets cannot reach them and supervise children who may mistake them for pet treats.

The FDA holiday safety guide warns about ribbon, tinsel, salt dough, fatty scraps and food packaging, while Cornell University’s holiday hazard guide covers electrical cords, batteries, snow globes and tree-related risks.

Managing Guests, Children and Parties

Visitors create several simultaneous risks: stress, escape, food theft, accidental medication exposure and conflict with children or other animals.

Before guests arrive:

• Exercise and toilet dogs

• Clean litter trays

• Feed pets normally

• Move food, alcohol and rubbish out of reach

• Secure doors, windows and gates

• Place pets in their retreat before doorbell activity begins

• Ask guests to store handbags, luggage and medication securely

• Nominate one adult to check your pet throughout the event

• Separate pets while food is being prepared and served

Do not force your pet to greet people. An animal who hides is communicating a need for distance, not behaving rudely.

Children must be actively supervised around pets. They should not:

• Enter the pet’s safe room

• Hug or corner the animal

• Approach while the pet is eating or sleeping

• Remove food, toys or chews

• Chase an animal that moves away

• Pick up a cat who is trying to hide

If your dog has shown fear, growling, snapping, resource guarding or a bite history around visitors, use secure physical separation and obtain professional guidance. A crowded Christmas gathering is not the time to test whether the problem has disappeared.

Fireworks and Loud Celebrations

Signs of noise fear may include:

• Panting or drooling

• Trembling

• Pacing

• Hiding

• Clinging to familiar people

• Refusing food

• Attempting to escape

• Destructive behaviour

• Urinating or defaecating indoors

• Remaining distressed long after the noise stops

Before fireworks begin:

1. Exercise and toilet dogs during daylight or well before the expected noise.

2. Bring all pets indoors and secure doors, windows and pet flaps.

3. Close curtains and use gentle television, music or white noise to reduce outside sound and flashes.

4. Confirm microchip and identification details are current.

5. Allow access to familiar hiding places.

6. Follow any veterinary medication plan exactly as prescribed.

7. Remain calm and offer quiet contact if your pet seeks it.

Do not take pets to firework displays, tether them outside or punish fearful behaviour. Never give human sedatives, antihistamines, sleeping tablets or another animal’s medication.

Pets with severe noise fear may benefit from prescription medication alongside environmental management and a longer-term behavioural plan. Speak to your veterinarian well before the event so treatment can be selected appropriately and, where advised, trialled in advance.

Recorded sound training should be performed gradually at very low intensity while the pet remains relaxed. Playing loud firework recordings to make a frightened pet get used to them can worsen the fear.

AAHA’s noise-aversion guidance recommends preparing safe spaces in advance, reducing noise and light exposure and discussing significant anxiety with a veterinarian.

Travelling With Your Pet

First decide whether travelling is genuinely in your pet’s best interests. An anxious cat, medically fragile pet or dog frightened by vehicles may be more comfortable with a trusted sitter at home.

If your pet will travel:

• Check destination, airline, accommodation and border requirements early

• Arrange veterinary appointments for certificates, vaccinations or preventive treatment

• Acclimatise your pet to their carrier, harness or restraint

• Secure dogs and cats appropriately in the vehicle

• Pack normal food, water, medication, bedding, identification and veterinary records

• Carry medication in its original labelled packaging

• Plan safe toilet and rest breaks

• Keep cats inside a secure carrier whenever doors are open

• Never allow a dog to travel on the driver’s lap

• Never leave a pet unattended in a parked vehicle

The AVMA travelling guide recommends helping pets become accustomed to carriers and restraints before the journey.

International and interstate requirements vary and can change. Confirm them with the relevant government authority and carrier each time you travel. USDA APHIS provides an example of how destination-specific vaccination, testing and certification rules are managed.

Sedatives and tranquillisers may increase cardiopulmonary and injury risks during air transport. Do not sedate a pet for a flight unless your veterinarian and carrier have specifically agreed on an appropriate plan. The International Air Transport Association generally discourages sedation during animal transport.

Boarding and Pet Sitters

Book reputable care early and provide written instructions covering:

• Feeding quantities and times

• Medication names, doses and schedules

• Medical and behavioural history

• Known fears, triggers and escape risks

• Normal toileting habits

• Veterinary and emergency contacts

• Permission and financial arrangements for emergency treatment

• Microchip and insurance information

• Carrier, lead and restraint requirements

Confirm vaccination and parasite-control requirements well in advance. If possible, introduce an anxious pet to the sitter or boarding facility before the longer stay.

Do not conceal aggression, separation distress, medical problems or medication needs. Accurate information protects your pet, the carer and other animals.

What to Do If Your Pet Eats Something Dangerous

1. Remove the remaining substance without putting yourself at risk.

2. Prevent other animals from accessing it.

3. Identify the product, plant or food.

4. Estimate the amount and time of exposure if possible.

5. Keep packaging, ingredient lists, photographs or samples.

6. Contact your veterinarian, emergency clinic or animal poisons service immediately.

7. Follow the professional instructions provided.

Do not give milk, oil, salt, charcoal, food or home remedies unless specifically directed. Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian or veterinary toxicologist tells you to do so.

Vomiting may be dangerous after exposure to batteries, caustic substances, sharp objects or petroleum products. There is also no safe method for making a cat vomit at home. Pet Poison Helpline’s emergency guidance advises against home antidotes or inducing vomiting without professional direction.

For 24-hour advice:

• Australia: Animal Poisons Helpline, 1300 869 738

• United States: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 888-426-4435

Consultation fees may apply. Pet owners elsewhere should contact their veterinarian, emergency hospital or local animal poisons service.

Emergency Signs That Need Immediate Veterinary Care

Seek urgent veterinary help if your pet develops:

• Collapse or profound weakness

• Difficulty breathing

• Choking or difficulty swallowing

• Tremors or seizures

• Severe agitation, confusion or loss of coordination

• Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea

• A swollen abdomen or repeated unproductive retching

• Pale, blue, grey or very red gums

• Significant bleeding

• Severe pain

• Burns to the mouth, skin or eyes

• Inability to urinate

• Suspected electrical injury

• Frantic escape attempts or self-injury

• Rapid deterioration after a possible ingestion

Some toxins cause delayed signs. A pet appearing normal immediately after eating grapes, xylitol, lilies, antifreeze, batteries or medication does not mean the exposure is safe.

Common Holiday Pet Safety Mistakes

Waiting for Symptoms After a Suspected Poisoning

Early treatment may be much more effective. Contact a veterinary professional as soon as the exposure is discovered.

Assuming Guests Know the Rules

Tell visitors directly about doors, feeding, children and restricted rooms.

Giving Pets a Plate of Leftovers

Several individually small treats can add up quickly, particularly when every guest contributes.

Leaving Rubbish Accessible

Bones, foil, string, skewers, food bags and fatty scraps remain dangerous after the meal has finished.

Forcing Frightened Pets to Join In

Hiding is a useful coping strategy. Give your pet space rather than repeatedly bringing them back into the room.

Trying New Calming Products on the Day

Supplements, pheromones and medication are not interchangeable, and not every product suits every animal. Plan with your veterinarian in advance.

Assuming a Closed Crate Solves Everything

Confinement can intensify panic in a pet who is not already comfortable in the crate.

Forgetting Guest Belongings

Handbags and luggage may contain medication, chocolate, sugar-free gum, nicotine products or cannabis.

Giving Human Medication

Human medication can be toxic, inappropriate or interact with existing treatment. Only use medication prescribed or specifically approved for that individual pet.

Pulling Swallowed String

String or ribbon may be anchored internally. Pulling it from the mouth or anus can cause serious gastrointestinal injury.

Practical Holiday Pet Checklist

Several Weeks Beforehand

• Update microchip and identification details

• Book veterinary, boarding or grooming appointments

• Prepare and positively introduce the safe retreat

• Discuss severe noise fear or travel anxiety

• Check travel documents and vaccination requirements

• Arrange sufficient medication and prescription food

One or Two Days Beforehand

• Pet-proof decorations and electrical cords

• Move plants and wrapped food gifts out of reach

• Secure bins and food-storage areas

• Confirm emergency clinic and poison-service details

• Prepare written instructions for carers

• Check doors, gates, windows and fencing

On the Day

• Maintain normal feeding and medication

• Exercise and toilet dogs before activity begins

• Clean litter trays

• Secure pets before guests arrive

• Monitor food, rubbish and guest bags

• Bring pets indoors before fireworks

• Check pets regularly without forcing interaction

After the Event

• Count medications, ornaments and batteries

• Check for missing ribbon, string, food or rubbish

• Watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, pain, lethargy or unusual behaviour

• Return to the normal routine as soon as practical

Frequently Asked Questions

What Should I Do if My Dog Eats Christmas Cake or Mince Pies?

Check the ingredients and contact a veterinarian or animal poisons service promptly. These foods may contain raisins, sultanas, Zante currants, alcohol, chocolate, macadamia nuts or xylitol.

Do not wait for your dog to become unwell.

What Should I Do if My Dog Eats Chocolate?

Record your dog’s weight, the type of chocolate, the amount potentially eaten and when it happened. Keep the packaging and contact a veterinarian or animal poisons service immediately.

Do not rely on the absence of symptoms because some effects are delayed.

Are Poinsettias Fatal to Pets?

Poinsettias usually cause mild oral or gastrointestinal irritation rather than life-threatening poisoning. Keep them out of reach and obtain advice if signs develop.

Lilies are a much more serious emergency for cats.

What Should I Do if My Cat Touches a Lily?

Prevent further access and contact a veterinarian immediately. Exposure to the petals, leaves, pollen or vase water can be dangerous.

If pollen is visible on the coat, prevent your cat from grooming while obtaining immediate veterinary instructions.

What Should I Do if My Cat Swallows Tinsel or Ribbon?

Contact a veterinarian promptly. Do not pull string from the mouth or anus because it may be anchored internally.

Can I Comfort a Frightened Pet?

Yes. Offer calm reassurance if your pet seeks contact while also providing access to hiding places and distance from the noise.

Do not force cuddling or drag your pet out of hiding.

Can I Give My Pet Human Calming Medication?

No. Human medication may be toxic, unsuitable or interact with your pet’s current treatment. Use only medication prescribed or specifically approved by a veterinarian for that animal.

Should My Pet Greet Every Visitor?

No. Some pets prefer to observe from a distance or remain in another room. Protecting that choice can prevent fear, escape and aggression.

Should I Travel With My Pet or Arrange Care at Home?

Choose the option that produces the least distress while still meeting your pet’s medical and practical needs. A trusted sitter may be preferable for an animal who finds transport or unfamiliar environments frightening.

When Should I Speak to My Veterinarian About Fireworks?

Ideally, several weeks before the expected event. This allows time for assessment, behavioural preparation and any recommended medication trial.

Final Thoughts

A successful Christmas does not require your pet to participate in everything. For many animals, the best celebration is a familiar meal, a secure room and the freedom to avoid the commotion.

Prepare early, maintain routine, control access to hazards and take possible poisoning seriously. Thoughtful management allows pets to remain part of the family without asking them to tolerate situations they find frightening or unsafe.

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If holiday food, fireworks, travel or unexpected symptoms leave you unsure what to do next, ASK A VET™ can provide personalised veterinary guidance and help you decide how urgently your pet may need care.