Can dogs eat mince pies?
✓ Reviewed against PDSA, Blue Cross & Animal PoisonLine guidance · Last updated: 2026-06-17
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The full picture
Mince pies are one of the top three causes of veterinary emergencies in the US every Christmas. The mincemeat filling is essentially concentrated raisins, sultanas, and currants — all carry the grape-family tartaric acid toxicity. Most mincemeat also contains brandy or rum. The pastry adds fat. A single mince pie can cause kidney problems in a small dog. Treat any mince pie consumption as a grape/raisin exposure and call your vet immediately. This applies to shop-bought and homemade mince pies equally.
If your dog has already eaten mince pies
Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 if your dog consumed a significant amount. Monitor for vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Bring the packaging or a description of the product to any vet visit.
Risks to watch for
- Raisin/sultana/currant toxicity — kidney failure
- Alcohol (brandy/rum)
- Pastry fat
Safe portion size
None.
Safer alternatives
- Dog-safe Christmas treats from pet stores
Does size or breed matter?
The risk with mince pies is almost always the ingredients rather than the base food itself — added sugar, salt, xylitol, raisins, chocolate, or onion/garlic seasoning are what turn an otherwise low-risk item into a genuine hazard, and toxic doses of these ingredients scale with body weight. Always check the specific recipe or ingredient label before assuming a shop-bought or homemade version is safe, and treat small and toy breeds as reaching a dangerous dose from a much smaller amount than large dogs.