Christmas foods dangerous to dogs

✓ Reviewed against PDSA, Blue Cross & Animal PoisonLine guidance · Last updated: 2026-07-05

The most dangerous Christmas foods

🚫 Mince pies and Christmas pudding

Both contain raisins, currants, and sultanas — all capable of causing acute kidney failure in dogs. Even a small amount can be fatal. This is the highest-priority Christmas food to keep secured. See: mince pies, Christmas pudding, raisins.

🚫 Stuffing

Almost always contains onion, garlic, or leek — all of which cause haemolytic anaemia in dogs. Packet stuffing mixes are even more dangerous because the alliums are concentrated. Effects can be delayed 1–3 days. See: stuffing, onions, garlic.

🚫 Chocolate

Theobromine in chocolate is toxic to dogs. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are more dangerous than milk chocolate; white chocolate contains very little. Christmas advent calendars, chocolate coins, selection boxes, and gifts under the tree are all risks. See: chocolate.

🚫 Macadamia nuts

Common in Christmas nut bowls and some biscuits. Cause temporary but serious neurological symptoms: weakness, wobbling, tremors, and fever. See: macadamia nuts.

🚫 Alcohol

Christmas drinks, mulled wine, beer, spirits — all dangerous. Alcohol causes hypoglycaemia, respiratory depression, and coma in dogs at much lower doses than humans. See: alcohol.

🚫 Xylitol

Found in sugar-free sweets, some chewing gum, some peanut butters, and some baked goods. Causes rapid hypoglycaemia and liver failure. Check labels on any sugar-free Christmas products. See: xylitol.

⚠️ Turkey bones (cooked)

Cooked turkey bones splinter into sharp shards that can perforate the oesophagus or intestines. Raw bones are safer but still carry risk. The turkey meat itself (plain, skinless, no seasoning) is fine in small amounts. See: turkey, bones.

⚠️ Gingerbread

Contains nutmeg (toxic in sufficient quantities), high sugar, and often xylitol in icing. A single bite won't harm most dogs but don't share intentionally. See: gingerbread, nutmeg.

⚠️ Gravy

Christmas gravy typically contains onion stock, salt, and butter — none appropriate for dogs. A small amount is unlikely to be lethal but onion stock is a concern with repeated or large exposure. See: gravy.

⚠️ Cranberry sauce

High sugar and often contains grape juice or xylitol. Skip it entirely. See: cranberry sauce.

What dogs CAN eat from Christmas dinner

Plain cooked turkey (no skin, no seasoning, no bones), plain cooked carrot, plain cooked parsnip, plain cooked Brussels sprouts (small amount — gas risk), plain cooked peas, plain cooked sweet potato. The key word is plain — no salt, no butter, no seasoning.