Oh You Sweet – But Not Entirely Harmless – Christmas Season
|
Lesezeit 7 min
Christmas is the season of love and coziness. For many of us, it also means letting go of our healthy everyday habits. We eat more cookies, enjoy rich Christmas food, perhaps drink a glass of wine (or mulled wine) more than usual, and spend more time indoors by candlelight. It’s a time when we want to pamper both ourselves and our four-legged family members.
But in the midst of all the Christmas cheer, surprises may be lurking that are not so pleasant for our furry friends. Many of the season’s treats and traditions can pose risks for dogs – whether it’s on the Christmas table, in the trash can, or on the kitchen counter. That’s why it’s important to know the most common dangers so we can enjoy the holidays together in a safe and dog-friendly way.
Table of Content
When the Pancreas Breaks Down
Every year, as Christmas approaches, the number of emergency calls from dog owners rises. The reason is often the same: a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.
The pancreas plays a crucial role in digestion. It produces digestive enzymes that are normally released into the intestines to break down fat, protein, and carbohydrates from food. In cases of acute pancreatitis, these enzymes are activated within the gland itself instead of in the intestines, which is their proper "workplace." This means the pancreas starts to “digest itself,” causing severe local inflammation, pain, and, in serious cases, affecting other organs.
One of the most common causes of acute pancreatitis in dogs is eating large amounts of fatty foods – such as Christmas dinner leftovers, gravy, pork cracklings, or fat from duck or goose. Fat triggers the release of the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK), which causes the pancreas to release digestive enzymes. When fat intake is too high, this stimulation can be excessive, significantly increasing the risk of early enzyme activation – inside the pancreas. The result can be an acute inflammation that is both painful and potentially life-threatening.
Especially if your dog normally eats a low-fat diet with relatively high starch content, it doesn’t take much fat to overwhelm the pancreas. Dogs already on a high-fat, low-starch diet are typically less sensitive to a bit of extra fat from the Christmas table. But that doesn’t mean these dogs can eat whatever they want. Pancreatitis is such a serious condition that you should ALWAYS be cautious with fatty holiday treats.
Symptoms of pancreatitis can include reduced appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and lethargy. Some dogs may stand with a hunched back and clearly not feel well. Treatment typically requires emergency veterinary care, and the prognosis depends on how severe the illness is and how quickly treatment is given. Most dogs recover fully with the right veterinary support and a switch to pancreas-friendly food. But relapses can occur, especially if the dog is again given fatty food.
So, prevention is the best strategy – especially during the tempting holiday season.
Tiny Bites with Big Consequences – Beware of These Treats
It’s not just the fat from Christmas food that can be dangerous to dogs. Many seasonal goodies can be anything but sweet for our dogs. Some of the most common holiday foods contain substances dogs can’t break down, leading to serious poisoning.
Chocolate and cocoa are classic culprits. They contain theobromine and caffeine, which belong to the methylxanthine group. Humans can quickly eliminate these substances, but in dogs, they accumulate. Even small amounts of dark chocolate can cause restlessness, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, and seizures – the darker the chocolate, the higher the risk.
Alcohol is a no-go for most dog owners, but even yeast dough isn’t as innocent as it looks. When ingested, it continues rising in the stomach and produces ethanol (alcohol), which can lead to poisoning, low blood sugar, loss of coordination, vomiting, and in severe cases, coma.
Onions, leeks, and chives are also dangerous. They contain sulfur compounds that damage red blood cells and can cause anemia in dogs. Symptoms often appear a few days later and include lethargy, pale gums, and dark urine.
Grapes and raisins should never be shared with dogs. Even small amounts can damage the kidneys’ filtration function and cause acute kidney failure. Symptoms range from vomiting and diarrhea to reduced urination and lethargy.
As we humans become more calorie-conscious, more foods are using calorie-free sweeteners instead of sugar – and that trend includes holiday treats. One common sweetener is xylitol. In dogs, xylitol causes a massive insulin release, leading to a drastic drop in blood sugar, sometimes within 10–30 minutes. Larger amounts can also cause acute liver failure. Always check the ingredients list for “xylitol” and keep such items well out of reach.
Even salt can be harmful if a dog gets too much, for example from herring, pork cracklings, chips, or gravy. Excess sodium can lead to electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, vomiting, and in severe cases, neurological symptoms like seizures. Since dogs have a much lower salt tolerance than humans, even small amounts of salty food can overwhelm their system.
The scents and flavors of Christmas are tempting for both two- and four-legged creatures. That’s why extra care is needed to keep chocolate, onions, alcohol, yeast, raisins, xylitol, or overly salty items away from curious canine noses.
Cooked Bones Belong in the Trash – Not in the Dog’s Stomach
While raw, meaty bones (even from poultry) can be great chew treats for many dogs, cooked or otherwise processed bones are an absolute no-go. When bones are cooked (whether from duck, pork roast, turkey, or beef), they lose their natural structure and become brittle. This means they can splinter into sharp pieces when chewed.
These splinters can cause mouth injuries or, worse, damage the esophagus, stomach, or intestines. Always discard cooked and baked bones safely, especially if your dog knows how to open the trash can.
Healthy and Safe Ways to Treat Your Dog
Even though much of the Christmas table isn’t suitable for dogs, that doesn’t mean they should miss out on festive treats. There are plenty of healthy and safe alternatives that taste great and do good.
For example, set aside some Christmas dinner before adding salt, spices, and gravy. Cut off a small piece of lean meat to give raw or cooked. Or keep small portions of classic holiday vegetables and fruits – like red cabbage, apples, and (cooked!) potatoes – for your dog.
If you prefer store-bought treats, look for low-fat, single-ingredient meat snacks with no additives. Choose products made from dried or freeze-dried chicken or venison – naturally low in fat, easy to digest, protein-rich, and intensely aromatic.
For dogs with very sensitive digestion, you can “pimp” their usual food with bone broth (meat broth made from bones and connective tissue), which contains natural collagen, minerals, and amino acids. Serve it as a mild Christmas treat or pour it over their food.
For dogs needing longer-lasting entertainment, raw meaty bones are a great option – as long as your dog is healthy and doesn’t gulp them down. Raw bones are more elastic and less likely to splinter. They provide mental stimulation and help clean teeth. Always choose a bone that matches your dog’s size and supervise while chewing.
Another good chew treat is gently dried or freeze-dried rabbit ears. Choose ones with fur for extra sensory enrichment.
And now, I’ll just finish by wishing you a Merry and Safe Christmas!
Disclaimer
General information about dog nutrition, as in this text, applies to healthy dogs without special needs. Dogs differ, and the above may not apply to your dog. Always consult a qualified canine nutrition specialist if you are unsure about anything.
1. Which Christmas foods are most dangerous for dogs?
Several classic holiday foods can be toxic for dogs. Chocolate, raisins and grapes, onions and leeks, alcohol, yeast dough, xylitol, very salty foods, and fatty leftovers all pose serious risks. These can lead to poisoning, kidney damage, red blood cell destruction, alcohol toxicity, or pancreatitis. Cooked bones are also dangerous because they splinter easily.
2. Can my dog get pancreatitis from Christmas leftovers?
Yes. Pancreatitis is one of the most common holiday-related emergencies in dogs. Fatty foods such as gravy, pork cracklings, duck or goose fat, and rich leftovers can overstimulate the pancreas and trigger severe inflammation. Symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and lethargy. It requires immediate veterinary care, so prevention — strict avoidance of high-fat treats — is essential.
3. What are safe Christmas treats I can give my dog instead?
Dogs can safely enjoy simple, lean, and low-fat options. Good choices include small amounts of plain cooked or raw lean meat, apple, red cabbage, or cooked potatoes (without seasoning). Safe store-bought options include single-ingredient, low-fat treats like freeze-dried chicken or venison. Bone broth is a gentle option for sensitive stomachs, and raw meaty bones or dried rabbit ears provide long-lasting enrichment when supervised.
Sources:
Boothe, D. M. (2012). Poisonings and toxicologic emergencies. In S. Ettinger & E. C. Feldman (Eds.), Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine (7th ed.). Elsevier.
Dunayer, E. K. (2006). New findings on the effects of xylitol ingestion in dogs. Veterinary Medicine, 101(12), 791–796.
Gwaltney-Brant, S. M. (2012). Clinical toxicology of chocolate in dogs and cats. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 42(2), 243–249.
Khan, S. A., & McLean, M. K. (2012). Toxicology of alcohol in dogs and cats. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 42(2), 259–270.
Lee, K. W., Yamato, O., Takahashi, S., Yamato, T., Maede, Y., & Ono, K. (2000). Onion (Allium cepa) poisoning in dogs. Veterinary and Human Toxicology, 42(5), 290–291.
Mealey, K. L., Court, M. H., Bailey, D. B., & Martinez, S. E. (2021). Identification of tartaric acid as the putative nephrotoxin in grape and raisin toxicosis in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 259(7), 751–756.
Richardson, J. A. (2000). Common salt (sodium chloride) poisoning in dogs. Veterinary Record, 146(19), 545–546.
Simpson, K. W. (2015). Pancreatitis and triaditis in cats and dogs: Causes, pathophysiology, and diagnosis. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 29(3), 703–713.
Watson, P. J. (2015). Pancreatitis in dogs and cats: Definitions and pathophysiology. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 56(1), 3–12.
World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Global Nutrition Committee. (2021). Nutritional management of gastrointestinal disease in dogs and cats. WSAVA Guidelines
The Author: Ann-Kristin Meyer
MSc in Animal Science from the University of Copenhagen, specializing in canine nutrition, Owner of HundefoderNørden
