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- Help your pet prepare for the festive season
- Avoid festive foods that can be toxic to pets
- Pet proof your Christmas tree
- How to keep your pet calm at Christmas
- Make sure your pet has a safe place to go
Christmas is a time filled with food, fun and family! Whether you’re hosting the big day itself or bringing your furry friend along to any festive activities, it’s important to ensure your pet (and any other furry, four-legged friends) are happy and safe. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on how to keep your pet safe at Christmas, from festive foods, to the Christmas tree itself!
Help your pet prepare for the festive season
Showing our pets love and affection shouldn’t be reserved for special times of the year, it's an everyday thing! But at Christmas, with all the extra people around the house and all the extra activity, showing a little extra love and affection could be all our pets need in order to ward off any impending anxiousness. In fact, half (50%) of pet parents agreed that they need to show extra love and care to their pets to alleviate their anxiety. So go on, give them a little extra hug from us.
It’s reassuring to hear, but our survey also showed that if our pet is in distress then we will not hesitate to end festivities at our home early (70%), evacuating guests and making sure our beloved pets are as comfortable as possible.
But we hope it never comes to this, as there are multiple ways to ease your pets' anxiousness during the festive period.
Avoid festive foods that can be toxic to pets
It’s important to have an understanding of what foods to avoid with your feline friends and your doggy pals all year around! Christmas happens to be a time of year when there is usually a lot of food lying around and a lot of that food isn’t good for our beloved pets. Things like chocolate, mince pies, bones for cooking and alcohol are very prevalent and all can be dangerous to your pets. Even sweets that contain xylitol are a nasty little surprise if your four-legged friend manages to steal them.
Grapes and raisins - Although juicy and delicious to us, just one grape or raisin can be fatally toxic for dogs and cats, as they are unable to metabolize them. This can result in sudden kidney failure, so it’s essential to keep them away, especially as they can look tempting to your pet due to their size and colour.
Chocolate - Rumour has it that some people actually share their chocolate - we’ll believe that when we see it. However, if you are tempted to share a piece of chocolatey goodness with your dog or cat, please don’t. Chocolate is known to cause issues with breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and even cardiac arrest, so reach for the specific cat and dog chocolate products if you really must treat them.
Alcohol - The alcohol can tend to flow a bit more freely around Christmas time, and we can all be partial to an extra little tipple. However, as bad as too much alcohol might make us feel, for our cats and dogs, even just a few sips can cause severe alcohol poisoning. If you want to avoid calling your vet on Christmas Day, keep alcohol as far away from your pet as possible.
Xylitol - Xylitol is a sweetener used in sugar free or low sugar treats and desserts, and although it can be a great alternative to sugar for those watching their intake, it is extremely toxic to dogs and cats. For them, Xylitol pulls water into the intestines, with small amounts causing hypoglycemia, liver failure and even seizures or death.
Onion and garlic - Onion and garlic are especially harmful to cats and dogs, so make sure that any plates of unfinished food are kept well out of reach. For dogs in particular, they damage the red blood cells and cause them to become anemic, suffer from weakness and shortness of breath. If your cat or dog ingests any onion or garlic, it’s crucial to contact your vet immediately.
Can dogs eat a roast dinner?
Chocolate and cake aside, you might be wondering if you can serve up a special Christmas dinner to your pooch on the big day. Whilst your pup will absolutely lap up some elements of a festive roast, others should be left off their plate, but which parts are safe for dogs?
Stuffing is out of the question
You may be surprised to find out that a 2021 survey found that Brits believe stuffing is the most important part of Christmas dinner, with 23 percent of those surveyed voting in favour of the dish.
However, your pooch is unlikely to agree! Filled with onions, garlic, leeks, chives and seasonings, stuffing should never be fed to your dog, as all of these ingredients can cause anaemia and make them really poorly. But if you ever needed an excuse to go in for seconds, that would be it.
Can dogs eat turkey?
According to a YouGov survey, 54% of Brits opt for turkey as the main meat option of their Christmas dinner and the good news is that your pup can join in too!
You can feed small amounts of boneless, skinless white meat to your pooch as a little treat on Christmas Day. But if you don’t have enough to go round, then turkey can be found as an ingredient in plenty of dog foods too - the JR Pet Products Pure Turkey Pate is sure to get your dog’s tail wagging.
Can dogs eat turkey bones?
You should definitely avoid feeding turkey bones to your pup, as they can easily splinter, which could pose a choking hazard, or even cause internal damage.
Instead, treat your canine companion to a safe turkey-flavoured treats like the Rosewood Turkey & Carrot Dog Treat Stick - it’s sure to make their Christmas!
Are pigs in blankets safe for dogs?
According to a 2022 Tesco Christmas Report, Brits are planning to eat more pigs in blankets than ever before, with the average person eating five over the Christmas period, compared to just three in 2018. Additionally, 10% of the nation reportedly believe they will consume over 10! But should we be letting our dogs in on the action?
Meaty, delicious and no bones in sight - you might think that pigs in blankets make an excellent treat for dogs. However, the salt and fat content is far too high for them and could cause digestive issues, so it’s best to avoid sharing them.
That doesn’t mean they should miss out altogether, though - you can treat them to their very own Good Boy Succulent Pigs in Blankets, made specifically for our canine friends.
Can dogs eat potatoes?
Ah, the humble potato - no Christmas dinner would be complete without it, and the good news is that your pooch can join in on the carb loading too!
However, it is important to note that you should only feed your pup plain potatoes with nothing else added, so make sure you put a portion aside before you go adding salt, butter or fat to yours! Additionally, although they’re safe, some pups may struggle to digest potatoes due to the high starch content, so feed them in moderation.
Which vegetables can dogs eat?
Probably the only micronutrients you’ll consume on Christmas Day, vegetables are an essential accompaniment to any festive feast. Carrots, Brussels sprouts and parsnips are apparently some of the most popular options for the big day, but are they dog-safe?
Unseasoned carrots, sprouts and parsnips are all safe for your pooch to consume, so they can enjoy them as part of their very own doggy Christmas dinner.
Is gravy safe for dogs?
As delicious as it is, gravy isn’t a safe Christmas food option for your pooch, as the salt content is a little too high and often contains garlic and onions, which could cause a few digestive problems, such as sickness and diarrhea.
If you don’t want your fluffy friend to miss out on the Christmas dinner staple, then opt for a dog-safe option, such as the Pedigree Biscrok Gravy Bones or the Royal Canin Wet Dog Food in Gravy - both will satisfy your pup’s saucy cravings, without upsetting their stomach!
Can dogs have cranberry sauce?
You might be surprised to learn that unsweetened cranberry sauce is safe to feed to your pup - in small quantities, of course. So add a couple of teaspoons to their potatoes, turkey and veg for a delicious festive meal.
But if a few teaspoons isn’t enough to satisfy your pooch, then they’ll love the Goodboy Superlicious, Chicken with Apple & Cranberry Sticks Dog Treats! Delicious, nutritious and easy for dogs to digest, but they're made with over 60% natural chicken too!
The best way to make sure that you avoid any stomach upsets is just to have everything safely out of the way. If you want your pets to join in then they can have their very own Christmas goodies like the Bakers Christmas Gift Box For Dogs filled with delicious dog treats.
Pet proof your Christmas tree
Almost every home has a Christmas tree around this time of year, but making sure it’s a pet safe tree is really important for your own pets and also any visiting fur babies. While there is a lot of debate out there between real and fake trees, including which is better for the environment, a fake tree is the clear winner when it comes to households with pets. The most common types of real trees used as Christmas trees include fir, pine and spruce which are all mildly toxic to cats and dogs.
They won’t cause any serious problems but if they consume the oils from the needles they can cause an upset stomach. Cats are quite prone to having a little chomp on the needles of real Christmas trees and the last thing you want over Christmas is cleaning up after a poorly tummy.
Even once you have your cat-safe Christmas tree, you still have to decorate it while making sure to keep it safe for your pets. Lights should be placed mostly around the middle to the top of the tree to avoid cables looking like fun toys. Many cats and dogs can’t resist playing with the lights. Tinsel might also be something you forego entirely if you have a kitten who loves to play with all things sparkly. If you place your tree right next to the couch, you’re essentially giving your pets a launch pad to jump onto the tree so a little caution with where you choose to set up your tree goes a long way.
One of the most important things you can do to keep your Christmas tree safe from your four-legged family members is to offer distractions! New toys can really help get the attention away from the big green thing that looks fun to play with and climb. Interactive toys can keep your pet busy for a while and satisfy their senses whilst a rope toy will give them something fun to chase.
How to keep your pet calm at Christmas
Calming Scents - Calming scents can have a huge impact on a pets wellbeing, evoking memories of better times and helping ease anxiety. They can be a great way to try and alleviate any anxiousness in cats in particular.
A Quiet Room - Sometimes we all just need to take a moment for ourselves and this is no different for your beloved pet. So when Nan's snoring starts becoming a little too much for them, having one room that is quiet and peaceful where they can retreat to can make all the difference. Make the room as comfortable as possible with their bed and other favourite items. Also, try adding something that smells just like you for extra familiarity and coziness.
Longer Walks and Playtime - We know Christmas is going to be busy, but before your guests arrive why not try carving out some time to take your dog for a walk, or to have a little playtime with your pet and its favourite toys. This will help expel some of that anxious energy, making them more settled and at ease when you’re not able to give them those squidgy hugs all day as you’re too busy preparing the veg.
Make sure your pet has a safe place to go
Now you’ve distracted your canine companions and feline friends away from your Christmas tree, you should consider protecting your furniture. With so many people coming and going, nobody wants to be getting the hoover out between visitors to make sure all the pet hair is collected between guests. If you’re expecting some clawed guests who don’t know where is and isn’t free game to have a scratch, then just putting an extra layer over your couches will help to limit any damage or clean up after your guests leave.
Some lovely fuzzy blankets like dog blankets are great for protecting your furniture. Not only do they add a layer of protection but they’re seriously comfortable. You can even get some red blankets to make it extra festive.
The most important thing to remember this Christmas is that your furry friend needs to feel happy and safe – from easing anxieties to pet-proofing your surroundings, make sure your pet can enjoy Christmas too!
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Sources and methodology: Jollyes surveyed 1,010 UK pet owners between 30/08/2023 - 31/08/2023