Christmas dinner is one of the few meals where almost every dish on the table has a catch for dogs. The turkey comes with bones and skin, the stuffing is full of onion, the gravy is salty, the pudding is packed with dried fruit, and the cheeseboard sits at nose height on the coffee table. Add visitors who think a little bit of sausage cannot hurt, a kitchen full of scraps, and a dog who has worked out that Christmas Day means unusual smells and unusual opportunities, and you have a recipe for a very long Boxing Day at the emergency vet. This guide goes through the meal course by course, explains what is dangerous and why, says what is fine to share, and sets out what to do if the worst happens. A simple tip before we start: keep your dog occupied while you cook and serve. A freezable lick mat such as our Big Spread, with its removable bowl and maze, honeycomb and nub zones, gives them a job to do in another room while the roast comes out.
One note on scope. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it is written for dogs. If your dog has already eaten something on this list, do not read on: ring your vet now, and use the section near the end for what to say.
Where this information comes from
We have tried to rely on UK veterinary charities, vets and kennel organisations rather than on pet-food brands or retailers. The Kennel Club, whose website now carries the Royal Kennel Club name, has a Christmas foods page and a December 2021 media release; the first carries no publication date, though its footer shows 2026. PDSA supplied a 2019 press release about a dog that ate a Christmas pudding and its page on pancreatitis. Dogs Trust's advice came through a local newspaper report dated 22 December 2025, with a quote from its senior veterinary surgeon. For yeast dough and some other items we used Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, which is American and was updated in December 2024; its emergency numbers are for the United States, so we have not repeated them. For the xylitol warning we relied on a 2010 news item quoting the British Veterinary Association and the Veterinary Poisons Information Service.
For which festive foods are safe in small amounts we had to lean on weaker sources, because veterinary charities say little about it. A Purina article is written by a pet-food manufacturer that promotes its own products, and a Jollyes article is from a pet retailer and names no vet or author. We use them for the plain-food lists only and flag that. We also looked for a reliable source on nutmeg and bread dough in a UK context and found only the Cornell material on dough, so we say where we could not find evidence. Our other post on Christmas, about advent calendar treats for dogs, covers the calendar side. This one is the dinner table.
Why Christmas is a risky month
The Kennel Club's December 2021 media release, using claims figures compiled by Agria Pet Insurance, the club's insurance partner, said dogs were 75 percent more likely to be treated for poisoned food in December than in any other month of 2020, and that December has been the highest month for intoxication claims every year since 2015. The release did not say how many claims were involved, so treat those percentages as a direction rather than a count, and note that insurance claims only capture dogs whose owners had a policy and made a claim. The same release said 40 percent of owners noticed mood changes in their dogs at Christmas, 23 percent saw unusual behaviour and 18 percent said their dog's routine was disrupted.
That last point is worth taking seriously. A dog whose routine has been upset, who is surrounded by visitors and who is being offered food by well-meaning relatives is more likely to scavenge and more likely to be handed something harmful. The Kennel Club's advice for December is to keep feeding times and walks consistent, give your dog a quiet retreat, and avoid leaving a dog alone for more than four hours. We come back to all three below.
Before dinner: the kitchen, the bin and the worktop
Most of the danger begins before anyone sits down. The Kennel Club advises keeping meat out of reach while it is being cooked and putting the turkey carcass straight into an outside bin so a dog cannot raid the kitchen bin. The same page says to keep the dog out of the kitchen after serving, because leftovers, the turkey itself, and the fat and juices in the roasting pan are all tempting. If you compost food scraps, it says to use a sealed container the dog cannot get into.
Raw yeast dough is one many people forget. Cornell's veterinary school says yeast dough can rise in a dog's stomach, causing painful bloating and possibly a life-threatening twist, and that it can also ferment into alcohol, causing drunken behaviour and other dangers. If you make bread, rolls or mince pie pastry with yeast, put the dough where a dog cannot reach it, and do not leave it proving on a low shelf. The Kennel Club also names mouldy food as a risk, including mouldy dairy, bread and nuts, which can contain substances causing muscle tremors and seizures that can last up to two days. Check the back of the fridge and bin the old cheese rather than putting it out for the dog.
The roast: turkey, skin, bones and fat
Plain turkey meat, without skin or bones, is the one item on the roast that most sources treat as acceptable to share in small amounts. We cover that further down. Everything around it is a problem.
Cooked bones come first. The Kennel Club says cooked bones, especially chicken, turkey and goose, become brittle and splinter. Large pieces can cause a blockage, and small pieces can irritate the gut or pierce the stomach or intestinal wall, which may need surgery. Cornell lists bones as a cause of choking, tooth fractures and digestive obstructions, and the Kennel Club's festive advice says signs of an obstruction include vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite and difficulty passing stools. Dogs Trust, through its December 2025 advice, includes turkey legs and chicken bones among the foods to avoid.
Fat is the next worry. The Kennel Club says overindulging in rich food can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and that a high-fat meal can lead to pancreatitis, which it describes as painful, serious and costly to treat. PDSA's pancreatitis page lists recent high-fat foods such as pork, cheese or butter as a risk factor, alongside being overweight, being unwell or having recently had surgery. Its listed signs often start suddenly: vomiting, eating less or not at all, a painful tummy that may show as a "prayer position", diarrhoea and weight loss. It says to book a vet appointment as soon as possible if you suspect it, because it can cause severe illness and even death if left untreated. Mild cases may need anti-sickness medicine, strong pain relief, rest and small low-fat meals, and severe ones a few days in a veterinary hospital on a drip. That is why the roasting tin, the turkey skin and the buttery trimmings are not harmless scraps. If your dog has had pancreatitis before or is overweight, be especially strict; our guide to helping an overweight dog lose weight safely explains why.
Pigs in blankets and gravy sit in the same category. Purina's article says pigs in blankets are too high in salt and fat and gravy is too salty and fatty, and the Jollyes article says gravy is high in salt and often contains garlic and onions. Neither article is veterinary, but the points about salt, fat and onion line up with the veterinary sources above. Dogs Trust's advice names pigs in blankets, roast trimmings and gravy as rich, fatty foods that can upset the stomach or cause pancreatitis.
Stuffing and the onion family
Sage and onion stuffing is the item most often forgotten by people who think they have tidied away the dangerous food. The Kennel Club says onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives all belong to the allium family, which damages red blood cells and can cause life-threatening anaemia. It adds that symptoms may take a few days to appear, and lists vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, sleepiness, dullness, weakness, loss of appetite and rapid breathing. Cornell makes the same point about onions, garlic and chives damaging red blood cells. Allium ingredients are also in many gravies, sausages and stocks.
The practical risk is delay. A dog that eats a few pieces of stuffing off the worktop may seem fine for the rest of the day. The Kennel Club's advice is to call the vet straight away rather than wait for symptoms, particularly for allium foods and for grapes, where effects can be delayed. When you ring, say what was eaten, roughly how much, and how long ago. If you want a break from risk while the dinner is served, a measured meal in a slow feeder keeps the dog busy in another room. Our Big Slow puzzle feeder has maze compartments and a non-slip base and is dishwasher safe, and it suits small to medium breeds.
Puddings, mince pies and Christmas cake: the dried fruit problem
If one item deserves to be treated as the most serious, it is probably dried fruit. The Kennel Club says grapes and dried grapes, meaning raisins, sultanas and currants, are toxic, that dried versions are believed to be more toxic than fresh, and that they turn up in Christmas cake, mince pies, Christmas pudding, stollen, fruit cake and chocolate-covered raisins. It says effects can be delayed by several days and that even small amounts can be harmful. Cornell says grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure, even in small amounts. PDSA's press office, in a 2019 release, said the raisins, sultanas and currants in Christmas pudding are potentially lethal to dogs and that the toxins can cause kidney failure or death if untreated.
The PDSA story behind that release is worth knowing. Marley, a five-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, ate most of a Christmas pudding and a box of chocolates while his owners were out. He was rushed to a PDSA pet hospital, where he was given a fluid drip to dilute toxins, medication to prevent further absorption and close monitoring, and he made a full recovery. The lesson for owners is the speed: his owners rushed him in, and treatment aimed at diluting the toxins and stopping further absorption began straight away. Neither PDSA nor the Kennel Club explains the exact toxin in grapes and dried fruit, so we will not either. The advice that matters is simple: if your dog eats any of these, ring your vet immediately, even if they seem completely well.
The Jollyes article adds that symptoms of raisin poisoning include vomiting, diarrhoea, blood in stools, low energy and reduced appetite, but it is a retailer with no named vet, so use this as a list of things to describe if you ring, not as a way to decide whether to ring. The sensible rule is that no symptoms is not the same as no problem. Keep puddings, mince pies and cake high up, behind a shut door, and tell guests that "just a crumb" is not an option.
Chocolate, sweets and anything sugar-free
Chocolate is the best-known Christmas danger, and the Kennel Club's festive advice puts chocolate coins on the tree, advent calendars, chocolate boxes and wrapped presents on its list, noting that dogs can smell through wrapping. It says wrappers are not poisonous but can cause a blockage. PDSA's press office names theobromine as the compound that makes chocolate dangerous. Cornell adds that dark chocolate is especially dangerous, and that coffee and caffeine belong in the same bracket. The Kennel Club's December 2024 advice says symptoms can appear four to 24 hours later and include sickness, stomach pain, excessive drinking, dribbling, fast breathing and seizures. For the details of how much is too much, see our guide on whether chocolate is really that dangerous for dogs, and for calendars, our advent calendar guide.
The less obvious danger is xylitol, a sugar substitute. A 2010 BVA and Veterinary Poisons Information Service item said xylitol is harmless to people but in dogs triggers a sudden release of insulin, causing a sharp drop in blood sugar, and can lead to liver damage. It listed sugar-free gum, sweets, dental products, some medicines and home-baking sugar substitutes as sources. Cornell says even small amounts can cause dangerously low blood sugar, seizures or liver damage. Christmas is when people bake more, hand out sweets and open stocking-filler gum, so read labels on anything that says sugar-free and keep it out of reach. Dogs Trust's advice also lists avocado among the foods to avoid, although we have not found a veterinary source explaining why, so we mention it only as part of that list.
Nuts, cheese and the cheeseboard
Macadamia nuts appear on every list we read. The Kennel Club says it is unknown why they are poisonous, and that symptoms include weakness, especially in the back legs, dullness, sleepiness, wobbliness, pain or stiffness when walking, vomiting, tremors and a raised temperature. They usually appear within 12 hours and can last up to two days. Some macadamias are chocolate-covered, which adds a second risk. Cornell lists weakness, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia.
Blue cheese is the other cheeseboard hazard. The Kennel Club says it contains roquefortine C, a substance from the mould used to make it, which can cause muscle tremors and seizures lasting up to two days in severe cases. Cheese is also fatty, and PDSA lists cheese among the high-fat foods that raise the risk of pancreatitis. Our advice, which goes a little beyond the sources, is that the cheeseboard should be on a high surface, not a coffee table, from the moment it comes out until it has gone back in the fridge.
Drinks, desserts with alcohol and spilt glasses
Dogs are more sensitive to alcohol than people, according to the Kennel Club, which says cream or egg-based drinks may be especially appealing to them. Its list of signs includes drowsiness, unsteadiness, low body temperature, low blood sugar, seizures and, in severe cases, coma. Cornell adds vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors and difficulty breathing. Dogs Trust's advice names spilt wine, beer and creamy liqueurs. Brandy butter, rum-soaked puddings and trifle all qualify as well, so alcohol is not only about drinks. Put glasses on a shelf, mop up spills at once, and keep any alcoholic dessert out of reach just as you would the fruit in it.
What is fine to share
After all those warnings, it is only fair to say what is acceptable. Both the Purina and Jollyes articles say plain turkey meat without skin or bones is fine in small amounts, as are unseasoned potatoes without butter or salt, though both note potato is high in starch, so only a little. Purina also lists Brussels sprouts, parsnips, peas, green beans and swede in moderation, warning that too much can cause wind or diarrhoea, and unsweetened cranberry sauce with no nuts as a dash over turkey. Jollyes lists unseasoned carrots, sprouts and parsnips. PDSA's pancreatitis page recommends low-fat treats such as chicken breast or small pieces of carrot, and its treats advice names steam-cooked chicken and frozen broccoli as healthier choices.
Whatever you give counts. PDSA's advice is that treats should be no more than 10 percent of a dog's daily food, with regular meals reduced by the same amount, and the Kennel Club says to give only a small amount even of safe foods because unfamiliar food can upset the stomach or cause wind. Dogs Trust's advice is to keep to the dog's usual feeding times and diet, give small treats in moderation, cut back regular food to balance the extra calories, and ask family members not to share scraps under the table. A sensible plan is to plate up a small, plain portion for the dog, in their own bowl, before the family sits down, so that everyone knows the dog has had Christmas dinner and nobody feels the need to add to it.
Keep the dog busy, calm and out of the way
Several sources make the same point about routine. The Kennel Club says to keep feeding times and walks consistent and provide a quiet retreat. In practice, that means a room with a door that closes, a comfortable bed, water, and something to do, so that your dog is not underfoot while you carry hot dishes, and not sitting beside a chair waiting for crumbs. A supportive bed such as our Big Snooze Pro, with its memory foam, bolster sides and non-slip base and a cover that washes at 30°C, gives a dog a place that is theirs when the house fills up, and the lick mat or slow feeder above gives them something to do there. The aim is not to shut your dog away from the family; it is to avoid the moments when a plate of food is within reach and nobody is watching.
Visitors need briefing too. Tell guests that the dog has been fed, that no scraps are to be passed under the table, and that anything left on a low surface is the dog's to take. Children are the most likely to drop food or to hand over a treat out of kindness, so give them a job instead, such as helping with the dog's own plate or playing a quiet game in the retreat room. If you have older relatives with pills in a dosette box or sweets in a handbag on the floor, remind them as well.
Boxing Day: leftovers and the walk
The danger does not end when the plates are cleared. The Kennel Club says leftovers, the cooked turkey and the roasting tin are all tempting, so keep the dog out of the kitchen after serving. Put the carcass in an outside bin that closes, wrap or cover leftovers on a high shelf, and empty the kitchen bin before bed. Mouldy leftovers a few days later are a risk of their own, because mould can produce toxins that cause tremors and seizures, so do not offer the back-of-the-fridge scraps as a treat.
A good walk on Boxing Day does more for a dog than another plate of turkey. If the weather is cold and dark, a comfortable harness helps. Our Big Trail Harness has front and back clips, a top handle, reflective strips and padding, and an AirTag holder in case the lead slips. Our guide on how cold is too cold for a dog walk will help you judge the weather, and our guide to antifreeze and dogs covers another winter hazard to watch for on the pavement.
If your dog eats something dangerous
The Kennel Club's steps are the clearest we found. Call your vet straight away, and do not wait for symptoms, especially for grapes or allium foods where effects can be delayed. Do not make your dog sick, because that can make things worse. Tell the vet what you think was eaten, including product names or ingredients, the amount, how long ago it happened, and any symptoms you have seen. Take packaging or a sample if you visit the practice. For chocolate, note the type and the percentage of cocoa if you can, and have someone ring ahead.
Plan before Christmas rather than during it. Dogs Trust's senior vet, quoted in a December 2025 local news report, says to know the contact details of your local emergency vet, since many clinics have reduced holiday hours. Save that number in your phone now, along with the out-of-hours number for your own practice. The Animal PoisonLine, a 24-hour triage service staffed by vets, veterinary nurses and toxicologists and promoted on a PDSA campaign page, can be reached on 01202 509000. As that page described it, it is not free: it charged £35 per case from 8am to 8pm on weekdays and £45 at all other times including bank holidays, with the cost refunded if the animal needs treatment and the vet then calls the Veterinary Poisons Information Service. Check the current charge when you call. It is no substitute for seeing a vet when your dog is unwell, but it can help you decide what to do.
A quick pre-Christmas checklist
Save the emergency vet and poison line numbers. Put all chocolate, puddings, mince pies, cake, nuts and the cheeseboard well out of reach, on a high shelf or in a closed cupboard. Plan the carcass route to the outside bin. Prepare a plain, small portion for the dog. Brief guests and children. Set up a retreat room with a bed, water and a lick mat or slow feeder. Keep walks and mealtimes as normal as you can. And on Boxing Day, treat the leftovers with the same suspicion as the dinner.
What we could not confirm
You may have seen nutmeg on festive lists of foods dangerous to dogs. We looked for a reliable veterinary source and did not find one in the pages we read, so we have not included a claim about it. If you are unsure whether something is safe, the sensible rule is to leave it out and ask your vet. Where sources disagree, we have gone with the more cautious reading.
Q: How much Christmas pudding or mince pie is dangerous for a dog?
A: The sources do not give a safe amount. The Kennel Club says even small amounts of grapes and dried grapes (raisins, sultanas and currants) can be harmful and that effects can be delayed by several days, and Cornell's veterinary school says even small amounts can cause acute kidney failure. PDSA describes Christmas pudding as potentially lethal. If your dog has eaten any, ring your vet immediately, tell them what and roughly how much, and do not wait for symptoms.
Q: Can I give my dog some turkey on Christmas Day?
A: Plain turkey meat with no skin, no bones and no seasoning is described as acceptable in small amounts by the Purina and Jollyes articles, which are a pet-food manufacturer and a retailer. The Kennel Club warns that cooked poultry bones can splinter, and that rich, fatty food can cause vomiting, diarrhoea or pancreatitis. Keep portions small, count them towards PDSA's 10 percent treat limit, and avoid skin, gravy and stuffing.
Q: What are the signs of pancreatitis after a rich meal?
A: PDSA lists vomiting, eating less or not at all, a painful tummy that may show as a prayer position, diarrhoea and weight loss, often starting suddenly. It says to book a vet appointment as soon as possible if you suspect it, because it can cause severe illness and even death if untreated. Recent high-fat foods such as pork, cheese or butter are named as a risk factor, along with being overweight.
Q: Is stuffing really dangerous if it only has a little onion?
A: The Kennel Club says onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives damage red blood cells and can cause life-threatening anaemia, with symptoms that may take a few days to appear. It does not give a safe amount, and Cornell likewise lists onions, garlic and chives as a hazard. Because signs can be delayed, the advice is to ring your vet straight away if your dog has eaten stuffing, rather than wait to see whether they seem unwell.
Q: Who do I call if my vet is closed on Christmas Day?
A: Find your practice's out-of-hours number now, and the nearest emergency vet, because Dogs Trust's vet warns that many clinics have reduced holiday hours. The Animal PoisonLine, 01202 509000, is a 24-hour paid triage service; the PDSA campaign page we read quoted £35 on weekdays from 8am to 8pm and £45 at other times including bank holidays, so check the charge. Have the packaging, the amount, the time and your dog's weight to hand when you call.
— Joseph, The Big Pet Shop, Bacup, Lancashire 🐾