Most Christmas emergencies in pets come from a handful of things: tinsel and ribbon swallowed by cats, chocolate and raisin-filled treats eaten by dogs, lilies in holiday bouquets, and fatty scraps from the table. Anchor the tree, skip the tinsel, keep food gifts and rich leftovers out of reach, and give your pet a quiet place to retreat, and the season is usually calm for everyone.
The Christmas tree
- Anchor it. Secure the tree so it cannot tip over if a cat climbs it or a dog bumps it. A sturdy stand, plus a line tied to a wall or ceiling hook, works well for climbers.
- Needles. A Christmas tree is not toxic, but its needles do not digest well. Sweep up fallen needles often, especially with puppies and kittens around.
- Tree water. Cover the stand or make it hard to reach. Standing tree water can grow bacteria and mold, and it may contain fertilizer or other additives you would not want your pet to drink. Drinking it can cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
- Placement. A corner spot with nothing nearby to jump from makes the tree less of a launch pad for cats.
Tinsel, ribbon and string
For cats, tinsel tops the list of holiday hazards. Shiny strands, curling ribbon, gift string and even the string on a popcorn garland are irresistible to bat and chew. Once swallowed, a long strand can catch under the tongue or in the stomach while the rest moves into the intestines. Normal gut movement then bunches the intestines along the string and can cut through the bowel wall. This is called a linear foreign body, and it usually needs surgery.
- Decorate with lights and ornaments instead of tinsel.
- Gather ribbon, bows and string as soon as gifts are opened.
- If you see string hanging from your pet’s mouth or bottom, do not pull it. Pulling can cause more damage. Call your vet right away.
Signs of a swallowed string include vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy and belly pain. Dogs can get linear foreign bodies too, though cats are the classic case.
Ornaments, hooks, lights and candles
- Ornaments. Shards from glass or breakable plastic ornaments can cut the mouth and digestive tract. Choose shatterproof ornaments and hang small ones and anything fragile near the top, out of reach. Pick up spare ornament hooks, which are small and sharp.
- Salt-dough ornaments look and smell like food. Even when dry, they can cause serious electrolyte imbalances if eaten.
- Snow globes may contain ethylene glycol, the same chemical used in antifreeze. Clean up any broken globe thoroughly.
- Lights and cords. Cats and puppies sometimes chew wiring, which can cause electric shock and burns. Leave the lower branches unlit or use cord protectors, and plug the tree in only when someone can supervise.
- Candles. A wagging tail or curious cat can knock over a candle in seconds. Battery-powered candles are a safer choice.
- Liquid potpourri and essential oils. Simmering liquid potpourri can cause chemical burns to the mouth, and cats are especially sensitive. Many essential oils used for holiday scents, including pine, peppermint, cinnamon, clove, wintergreen and tea tree, can be harmful to pets. Keep warmers and diffusers out of reach or out of pet areas.
Gifts under the tree
Your pet may smell what you cannot see. Wrapped chocolate, cookies and other edible gifts are a common way dogs get into trouble, so keep food presents off the floor until they are opened. Gifts that come with batteries deserve the same care. A chewed or swallowed battery can cause corrosive burns to the mouth and throat, and disc-shaped or lithium batteries can also burn tissue by passing an electric current. Do not make your pet vomit after eating a battery, and get to a vet immediately.
Holiday plants: a quick list
- Lilies in Christmas bouquets are extremely toxic to cats. Every part of the plant, even the water in the vase, can cause kidney failure. Leave them out of homes with cats.
- Mistletoe can cause stomach upset and, in larger amounts, a slow heart rate and low blood pressure. Holly berries and leaves usually cause vomiting, diarrhea and drooling. Use artificial versions or hang them well out of reach.
- Amaryllis can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
- Poinsettia has a worse reputation than it deserves. It may irritate the mouth and stomach and cause mild upset, but it is not deadly.
- Christmas cactus (holiday cactus) is considered safe for both dogs and cats.
Holiday food
Keep your pet’s diet the same as any other day. A small piece of plain, boneless turkey is fine, but these are worth keeping away:
- Chocolate, including cocoa and chocolate desserts, is toxic to dogs and cats. The darker the chocolate, the greater the risk.
- Grapes, raisins and currants can cause kidney failure in dogs. They are in Christmas pudding, mince pies, fruitcake, stollen and many cookies.
- Xylitol in sugar-free sweets and many candy canes can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar and liver damage in dogs. Skip candy canes on the tree or hang them high.
- Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, wobbliness, vomiting and tremors in dogs.
- Nutmeg in the small amounts used in baking is unlikely to cause serious harm, though it can upset the stomach. A large amount, such as a spilled jar, needs a call to your vet.
- Fatty scraps, such as skin, drippings and trimmings, can trigger pancreatitis, with belly pain, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Cooked bones splinter and can puncture or block the digestive tract.
- Alcohol, including eggnog, punch and rum-soaked cakes, is dangerous for pets and is absorbed quickly. Don’t leave drinks unattended.
- Raw yeast dough keeps rising in the stomach and produces alcohol as it ferments. It is an emergency.
Take the trash out often or use a bin with a secure lid. Bins full of scraps, bones and wrapping are a favorite target.
Guests, doors and a quiet space
- Set up a quiet room with water, a bed, a litter box for cats and a favorite toy, so your pet can get away from the noise.
- Ask guests not to feed your pet and to keep medications in a closed cabinet rather than in a bag or suitcase on the floor.
- Watch the door. Pets can slip out while guests come and go. Check that your pet’s ID tag shows a current phone number and that its microchip details are up to date.
New Year’s Eve
Fireworks, party poppers and loud music can frighten pets. Keep your pet indoors, close the curtains and use the same quiet room. Thrown confetti and streamers can also be swallowed, with the same risk as string for cats. Our guide to fireworks and thunder fear has more ways to help a nervous pet through the night.
If something goes wrong
Call your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away, even if your pet seems fine, since some poisonings take hours to show. Note what your pet ate, roughly how much and when, and bring the packaging. Do not try to make your pet vomit unless a veterinarian tells you to. Holiday hours vary, so find your nearest 24-hour emergency hospital before the holidays begin.
Quick reference
| Holiday hazard | Risk to cats | Risk to dogs | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tinsel, ribbon, string | Linear foreign body, often needs surgery | Can also cause intestinal blockage | Skip tinsel, tidy up gift wrap, never pull a visible string |
| Tree water | Stomach upset | Stomach upset | Cover the stand |
| Breakable ornaments, hooks | Cuts, swallowed hooks | Cuts, swallowed hooks | Shatterproof ornaments, fragile ones up high |
| Lights and cords | Chewing, shock | Chewing, shock (puppies) | Cord protectors, unplug when unsupervised |
| Liquid potpourri, essential oils | Mouth burns; cats are especially sensitive | Mouth burns | Keep out of reach or skip |
| Lilies | Kidney failure, even small amounts | Mild stomach upset | Keep out of the house |
| Mistletoe, holly, amaryllis | Stomach upset; mistletoe may also affect the heart | Stomach upset; mistletoe may also affect the heart | Out of reach or artificial |
| Chocolate | Toxic | Toxic | Keep wrapped gifts off the floor |
| Raisins, grapes, currants | Avoid | Kidney failure | No pudding, mince pies or fruitcake |
| Xylitol, candy canes | Avoid | Low blood sugar, liver damage | Store high, check labels |
| Fatty scraps, cooked bones | Pancreatitis, blockage | Pancreatitis, blockage | Plain boneless meat only, secure the trash |
| Alcohol, raw yeast dough | Emergency | Emergency | Keep drinks and dough out of reach |
| Batteries | Mouth and throat burns | Mouth and throat burns | Don’t induce vomiting, see a vet now |
Sources
- ASPCA, Holiday Safety Tips
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- VCA Animal Hospitals, Tips for a Safe, Hazard-Free Pet Holiday
- Pet Poison Helpline, Liquid Potpourri
- Pet Poison Helpline, Batteries
- Pet Poison Helpline, Nutmeg and Cinnamon Toxicity
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Disorders of the Stomach and Intestines in Cats
- dvm360, Holiday hazard 4: Ribbon and tinsel
This guide is general information and not a substitute for veterinary advice.