7 Christmas Foods That Are Toxic to Dogs
The holiday season is full of joy, delicious food, and quality time with loved ones—including our dogs! But while sharing festive treats may seem like a kind gesture, many Christmas foods can be harmful or even toxic to our dogs. It’s not just about avoiding overfeeding; some common Christmas foods are really toxic to dogs!
After Halloween and surviving Thanksgiving with dogs, let’s take a closer look at Christmas dishes you should never share with your dog!
1 Stuffing
There’s no Christmas dinner without stuffing, but unfortunately, Christmas stuffing is not safe for dogs! It’s almost always made with lots of onions, which are toxic to dogs, and garlic, which is also considered toxic (although less harmful than onions). You also have lots of fat trimmings, which are not toxic but can upset your dog’s stomach, and so many herbs and spices that can irritate your dog’s digestion. Please don’t share any stuffing with your dog, and be careful they don’t snatch the leftovers or any table scraps.
2 Fruit cake
Classic Christmas fruit cake is a delicious staple of the holiday season. It’s usually made with dried fruit and nuts that are soaked overnight and then combined in a tasty and soft cake with lots of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Now, the most dangerous part of your fruit cake is the raisins! Raisins are highly toxic to dogs and can cause serious health issues like acute kidney injury and persistent stomach aches. It’s not really known how many raisins are enough to cause issues with dogs, but you need to keep the fruit cake far away from your dog. The same goes for Panettone (an Italian sweet bread filled with raisins, candied orange peel, and chocolate) and Christmas pudding with raisins and brandy.
Contrary to popular belief, cinnamon is not toxic to dogs, so you don’t have to worry about that!
3 Christmas chocolate desserts
Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Whether it’s cookies, cakes, brownies, or fudge, chocolate contains theobromine, which is the toxic ingredient that can cause heart problems and seizures. Some of the famous Christmas chocolate recipes, like chocolate fudge and Yule Log (Bûche de Noël), often include semi-sweet or dark chocolate, which have higher concentrations of theobromine, making them even more dangerous to dogs. In my “can dogs eat chocolate” article, you can check out everything about chocolate toxicity in dogs, including the amount that can be harmful. This Christmas, please make sure you don’t make a mistake and don’t let them indulge in desserts. They can eat the turkey or ham instead and leave the chocolate to you!
4 Macadamia nuts
White chocolate macadamia nut cookies are very popular at Christmas time. These cookies are amazing, as they are sweet, nutty, and super soft! But they are really dangerous for dogs. Macadamia nuts are one of the most toxic foods for dogs out there! You can check the information on the ASPCA website.
There’s another study done by the ASPCA where researchers tested this by giving macadamia nuts to a few dogs (don’t worry—they watched them carefully). The dogs got weak, couldn’t stand up, and experienced vomiting and fevers. Some blood tests showed changes, but nothing long-lasting. The good news? Every dog recovered in a day or two, even without a vet’s help. Some sources say that signs of toxicity are seen at >2 g/kg (0.8 g/lb), so it really takes a tiny amount of macadamia nuts to cause issues for dogs.
No one’s exactly sure why macadamia nuts affect dogs this way, but here’s the bottom line: they’re toxic, even in small amounts. If your dog eats any, play it safe and call your vet to see what steps to take.
5 Pecan pie
Pecan pie is usually considered dangerous for dogs, but the amount of pecans you’ll use for the pie can’t cause toxicity in dogs. I wrote about why pecans are toxic to dogs, and the main reason is a toxin called juglone, which can cause stomach distress in dogs and neurological issues. Similar to chocolate, the amount of pecans that your dog eats is the key here. So, if your dog eats a piece of pecan pie, they are most likely to be fine. However, this is where you need to be careful: while you’re baking, you need to keep the bag of pecan nuts away from your dog, as there’s a risk they will grab it and eat a lot of them! Please be careful.
6 Eggnog
Eggnog is a holiday favorite for many, but if you’re making it with alcohol, it can be very dangerous for dogs. Dogs process alcohol much slower than humans, and even small amounts can lead to alcohol poisoning. Symptoms might include vomiting, disorientation, trouble breathing, and, in severe cases, seizures or coma.
It’s worth mentioning that other eggnog ingredients are also not safe for dogs. It’s full of sugar and cream, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea. But at least sugar and cream are not toxic to dogs, while alcohol is.
Since it’s sweet and tempting, there’s a chance your dog will want to grab some eggnog but don’t let them! The same goes for mulled wine, apple cider, and anything that has alcohol.
7 Sugar-free cheesecake and jams
If you have a family member who doesn’t eat sugar, or if you like to bake sugar-free desserts, please be extra careful this Christmas! Sugar-free cheesecake with xylitol is very dangerous for dogs, as xylitol is highly toxic and can cause severe health issues.
If you use any sugar-free items like peppermint candy, sugar-free jams, or cake mixes, make sure to read the label carefully and confirm there’s no xylitol among the ingredients!
Keep your dog safe this Christmas, and don’t let them indulge in candy, chocolate cakes, anything with raisins, or alcohol! Also, if you’re making any charcuterie boards with blue cheese, don’t give them any! Instead, dogs can enjoy Christmas roast, turkey, and some sweet potatoes and spend this holiday safely with the whole family.
Merry Christmas
&
Love, life, and fur forever!
FAQs
What can’t dogs eat at Christmas?
Dogs should stay away from chocolate, raisins, grapes, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, nutmeg, alcohol, and anything with xylitol (a sugar substitute). These ingredients are common in Christmas dishes and can be highly toxic to dogs. Foods like fruitcake, stuffing, and chocolate desserts are especially risky.
What holiday foods are bad for dogs?
Holiday foods like chocolate, fruitcake, mince pies with lots of raisins and nuts, eggnog, and stuffing are bad for dogs. Many of these contain toxic ingredients such as chocolate, raisins, onions, or alcohol.
Is Christmas cake poisonous to dogs?
Yes, Christmas cake is dangerous for dogs because it often contains raisins, currants, and alcohol, all of which are toxic. Raisins are toxic to dogs and can damage your dog’s kidneys, even in small amounts, and alcohol can lead to poisoning.
If you think your dog ate anything from this list in large amounts, keep these numbers handy and call for help:
- Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661, www.petpoisonhelpline.com
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435, www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control