The Christmas foods dogs can't eat include cooked bones (ham, turkey and chicken), fatty ham trimmings, Christmas pudding, fruit cake and mince pies (grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants), chocolate, macadamias, anything with onion or garlic, xylitol-sweetened treats, alcohol and raw dough.1,2 In Australia you can add a summer list of your own: prawn scraps in a hot bin, BBQ skewers, corn cobs, mango seeds and stone fruit pits, plus the heat itself. If your dog gets into any of them, call your vet or an emergency vet straight away.
Key takeaways
- Never give a cooked bone. The ham bone is the classic Aussie Christmas mistake.2,11
- Christmas pudding, fruit cake and mince pies are packed with dried grapes, which can damage a dog's kidneys.1,6
- Dark chocolate and cocoa are far more dangerous than milk chocolate, but any amount is worth a call to your vet.3,4
- Fatty leftovers can trigger pancreatitis, which can be very serious.1,11
- Don't make your dog vomit at home unless a vet tells you to.23
What Christmas food is toxic to dogs? The quick-reference table
Pin this to the fridge. "Call your vet" means right away, even if your dog seems fine: some signs take hours or days to appear.4,7,8
| Food | Why it's dangerous | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked bones (ham, turkey, chicken, chop bones) | Splinter, causing blockages and damage to the gut1,2 | Call your vet |
| Ham fat, crackling, turkey skin, BBQ scraps | High fat, linked to pancreatitis1,11 | Call your vet if unwell |
| Christmas pudding, fruit cake, mince pies, grapes | Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants can cause kidney injury2,6 | Call your vet immediately |
| Chocolate (especially dark, baking chocolate, cocoa) | Theobromine and caffeine affect the heart and nervous system3,4 | Call your vet immediately |
| Macadamia nuts | Weakness (often back legs), wobbliness, tremors, vomiting, fever9,10 | Call your vet or a poisons helpline |
| Onion, garlic, chives (stuffing, gravy, dips) | Damage red blood cells, causing anaemia days later1,7 | Call your vet immediately |
| Sugar-free lollies, gum, some peanut butters and baking | Xylitol causes a dangerous blood sugar drop and can cause liver failure1,8 | Emergency: go to a vet now |
| Alcohol, raw yeast dough | Intoxication, low blood sugar; dough keeps rising in the stomach1,12 | Call your vet immediately |
| Avocado | Can cause vomiting and diarrhoea; the seed can cause a blockage13,14 | Call your vet |
| Corn cobs, mango seeds, stone fruit pits | Gut blockages that may need surgery1,15,17 | Call your vet |
| BBQ skewers, toothpicks | Can pierce the gut wall and travel through the body19 | Call your vet |
Can dogs eat ham? And what about the ham bone?
Ham is salty, and the fatty bits are the real problem. The RSPCA says fatty trimmings can be linked to pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that can be very serious.1 A Canberra vet has warned that feeding dogs the trimmed ham fat can lead to pancreatitis that can be fatal.11 Signs include lethargy, poor appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever.11
The ham bone is a firm no. The RSPCA advises never feeding cooked bones, which can splinter and cause blockages and damage in the gut.1,2 Smoked ham bones are brittle and prone to splintering.11 The same goes for turkey, chicken and BBQ chop bones.
BBQ leftovers and skewers
Snags are fatty, and the RSPCA warns processed meats such as sausages can contain sulphite preservatives linked to a fatal thiamine deficiency.2 Then there's the stick. Swallowed wooden skewers can pierce the gut and migrate, causing infections that can be life-threatening.19 Meat-scented skewers go straight into a lidded bin.
Can dogs eat Christmas pudding, fruit cake or mince pies?
No. They're packed with dried grapes. The RSPCA lists grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants as toxic to dogs.2 The MSD Veterinary Manual notes that the dried "currants" we bake with (Zante currants) are grapes too, and that more than one grape or raisin per 4.5 kg of body weight may pose a risk to the kidneys.6 Vomiting or diarrhoea usually comes within 6 to 12 hours, and kidney failure can follow within 24 to 72 hours.6
Toxicity varies from dog to dog, so no amount is known to be safe. If your dog eats a slice, call your vet straight away; prompt treatment is recommended.6
Chocolate: why dark is worse than milk
Chocolate contains theobromine (plus some caffeine), which dogs process slowly. The RSPCA says cocoa powder, baking chocolate and dark chocolate contain more theobromine than milk chocolate, and that the danger depends on your dog's size, the type of chocolate and how much they ate.3 Signs include restlessness, vomiting, a racing heart, tremors and seizures,3 usually 6 to 12 hours after eating.4
The MSD Veterinary Manual gives these doses for dogs, measured as total methylxanthines (theobromine plus caffeine) per kg of body weight:4
- Mild signs (vomiting, diarrhoea, thirst): 20 mg/kg
- Heart effects: 40–50 mg/kg
- Seizures: 60 mg/kg or more
Using the manual's average content figures (milk chocolate 2.3 mg/g, sweet dark 5.3–5.6 mg/g, baking chocolate 15.5 mg/g, cocoa powder 28.5 mg/g),4 a 10 kg dog could reach the mild-signs dose with roughly 87 g of milk chocolate, about 36–38 g of dark chocolate, about 13 g of baking chocolate or about 7 g of cocoa powder. Halve those amounts for a 5 kg dog. Products vary, so this shows how serious it is, not a safe limit. The RSPCA says to contact your vet if your dog eats any chocolate.3
Pet insurer PetSure reports that chocolate toxicity climbs more than 200% around Christmas and Easter, and its data showed more than 1,850 cases in 2019, costing almost $675,000 in vet bills.5
Macadamias, xylitol and the onion family
Macadamia nuts
Macadamias turn up in Christmas biscuits and nut bowls. The Animal Poisons Helpline says dogs can become lethargic, vomit, tremble, and become unsteady with weakness, especially in the back legs. It isn't generally life-threatening, but early vet care helps.9 Signs usually appear within 12 hours, and most dogs recover within 12 to 48 hours.10
Xylitol (sugar-free lollies, gum and some peanut butters)
Xylitol is a sweetener found in sugar-free gum, lollies, mints, some peanut butters and baked goods.8 In dogs it causes a dangerous drop in blood sugar and, in some dogs, liver failure.1 The MSD manual reports low blood sugar at doses above about 100 mg/kg, liver injury above 500 mg/kg, and signs that can start within 30 minutes.8 Check peanut butter labels, and keep guests' handbags off the floor.
Onions, garlic and chives
Stuffing, gravy, French onion dip and garlic prawns all bring in the onion family. Raw, cooked and powdered forms can all damage red blood cells and cause anaemia, and garlic is 3 to 5 times more toxic than onion.7 The tricky part is timing: signs such as weakness, pale gums and collapse usually appear a few days later.7 Call your vet when it happens.
Christmas Day in the high 30s?
Our cooling shirts are soaked, wrung out and worn. They cool as the water evaporates, and work best in dry heat. Use one alongside shade, water and a cool spot inside.
Christmas dangers for dogs in Australia: the summer extras
Prawns and the seafood bin
About 40 per cent of Australia's annual prawn consumption happens over Christmas.20 The risk is the leftovers: heads, shells and garlicky marinades. Seafood scraps in a hot bin spoil fast, and the RSPCA lists mouldy or spoiled food among the things dogs should never eat.2 Double-bag the shells and get them into an outside bin with a tight lid.
Pavlova, trifle and ice cream
Not classic poisons, but not dog food either. Dairy can upset dogs that don't tolerate lactose, and the RSPCA warns that sugary and greasy foods can cause problems.1,16 Check the toppings: chocolate shavings, grapes or macadamia crumble change the picture completely. A "sugar-free" dessert may contain xylitol.8
Avocado
The RSPCA lists avocado among foods to avoid.2 Dogs are relatively resistant to persin, avocado's toxin, compared with other species,13 but it can still cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and the fat can trigger pancreatitis.14 The bigger worry is the seed: swallowed whole, it can cause a blockage in the gut.13
Corn cobs, mango seeds and stone fruit pits
RSPCA Queensland has described a dog needing a corn cob removed from its intestines, warning these blockages can be fatal if not found early.15 Fruit stones and seeds can block the gut and some contain toxic compounds.1 Mango seeds are a choking hazard,17 and cherry pits should come out before any cherry goes near your dog.18
Alcohol and unbaked dough
Alcohol causes intoxication in dogs, and large amounts can cause low blood sugar, coma or death.1 Ask guests to keep glasses up high.26 Raw yeast dough keeps rising in a warm stomach and produces alcohol as it ferments.1,12
Non-food Christmas hazards for dogs
- Tinsel, ribbon and string: can cause obstructions needing surgery. If string is hanging from your dog's mouth or bottom, don't pull it. Get to a vet.1
- Baubles and glass ornaments: can break or be chewed.1 Hang them out of reach and secure the tree so it can't topple.27
- Batteries: button batteries from new toys and gadgets can burn the mouth and gut.1
- Wrapping paper: can cause intestinal blockages too.26
- Plants: lilies are very dangerous to cats; for dogs, poinsettia is only mildly toxic, typically causing drooling or vomiting.1,21 The RSPCA also lists holly and American mistletoe.1
Heat on Christmas Day
Heatstroke can lead to multiple organ failure, and the RSPCA warns animals can die quickly if not treated.22 Watch for relentless panting, drooling, a bright red tongue, weakness, vomiting and collapse.22 Flat-faced breeds such as Frenchies, Pugs and Bulldogs are at much higher risk.22 Heatstroke is an emergency, so go to a vet immediately.
Walk early, check when it's too hot to walk your dog, and keep shade and water handy. We've also covered whether dog cooling shirts work: they help most in dry heat, less in humidity, and never replace shade and water. Frenchie owners, see our Frenchie summer guide.
What to do if your dog eats something it shouldn't
- Call your vet or an emergency vet immediately. Many emergency hospitals are open after hours, including public holidays.27 You can also call the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738. Check animalpoisons.com.au for current hours and any fees.24,25
- Have the details ready: the packaging, what was eaten, roughly how much, when, your dog's weight, and any signs so far.24
- Don't make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to. Salt, fingers down the throat and too much hydrogen peroxide can do real harm. Bringing up some things, like batteries, can cause more damage, and flat-faced breeds are at higher risk of inhaling vomit.23
- Don't wait for signs. Grapes, onion and xylitol can do damage before your dog looks sick.6,7,8
Safe Christmas treats for dogs (in moderation)
- Plain cooked lean meat: boiled chicken or lamb with no bones, skin, onion or gravy.2,18
- Carrots and pumpkin: small amounts, plain and cooked.2
- Watermelon: flesh only, with the rind and seeds removed.17
- Blueberries: a handful is fine.17,18
- Pitted cherries: stones out first.18
- A spoonful of plain yoghurt or a Kong with xylitol-free peanut butter.16
Cut treats small and keep portions tiny.
Tips for hosting with a dog at Christmas
- Brief your guests. One sentence at the door: "Please don't feed the dog, and keep drinks up high."26
- Use bins with lids, and take the seafood and bone scraps straight outside.
- Exercise first, early in the cool of the morning, then give your dog a long-lasting enrichment toy.26
- Set up a quiet room with water, a fan and their bed. Crowds, kids and loud toys can stress dogs.26
- Store chocolates and lollies up high, including edible gifts under the tree.26
- Save your vet's after-hours number in your phone before the day.
FAQs
Can dogs eat ham at Christmas?
It's best not to. Ham is salty and the fat can trigger pancreatitis, which can be fatal.1,11 Never give the ham bone. Cooked bones splinter.2
Can dogs eat Christmas pudding?
No. It's full of raisins, sultanas and currants, which can cause kidney injury.1,6 Call your vet straight away if your dog eats any.
My dog ate one chocolate. Should I worry?
It depends on the type, the amount and your dog's size, but the RSPCA recommends calling your vet for any chocolate.3 Have the wrapper handy so they can work out the dose.
Can dogs eat prawns?
Prawns aren't on the main toxic lists, but shells, heads, garlic marinades and spoiled scraps from a hot bin are best avoided.2 The safest Christmas treat is plain cooked lean meat instead.
Is the Animal Poisons Helpline open on Christmas Day?
Their website describes a 24/7 helpline, but hours and fees have changed over time, so check animalpoisons.com.au.25 In an emergency, go straight to your nearest emergency vet.
References
- RSPCA Knowledgebase, What are common household dangers for pets?
- RSPCA Knowledgebase, What should I feed my dog?
- RSPCA Knowledgebase, Why is chocolate toxic to dogs and other animals?
- MSD Veterinary Manual, Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals
- PetSure, Chocolate. Delicious for us, toxic for pets.
- MSD Veterinary Manual, Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind Toxicosis in Dogs
- MSD Veterinary Manual, Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals
- MSD Veterinary Manual, Xylitol Toxicosis in Dogs
- Animal Poisons Helpline, Macadamia Nuts & Dogs
- MSD Veterinary Manual, Macadamia Nut Toxicosis in Dogs
- Region Canberra, Not sharing can be caring when it comes to Christmas treats and your pets
- MSD Veterinary Manual, Bread Dough Toxicosis in Animals
- MSD Veterinary Manual, Avocado Toxicosis in Animals
- Pet Poison Helpline, Can Dogs Eat Avocado?
- RSPCA Queensland, Easter and your pet
- RSPCA Queensland, Canine dining: the dos and don'ts
- American Kennel Club, Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can and Can't Eat
- Animal Poisons Helpline, Safe Human Foods
- Costas A, Cervera V. CT findings in seven dogs with perforating wooden skewer foreign bodies from the gastrointestinal tract. Open Veterinary Journal, 2024;14(4):1002–1011
- CSIRO, Prawn stars: five facts about Aussie prawns
- Pet Poison Helpline, Poinsettia
- RSPCA Australia, Warm weather worries: protect pets from heatstroke
- Pet Poison Helpline, Does Hydrogen Peroxide Help a Dog Vomit?
- Animal Poisons Helpline, Emergency Instructions
- Animal Poisons Helpline, Home page
- RSPCA WA, Don't let pet holiday hazards spoil your Christmas
- Animal Referral & Emergency Network, Christmas Pet Safety Tips