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Most holiday emergencies involving dogs and cats come from three sources: food and gifts within reach, string-like decorations, and plants or tree water. Lilies are the most urgent plant concern for cats. For dogs, the food hazards named most specifically in veterinary guidance are grapes and raisins, xylitol, fatty foods, and bones. If you suspect your pet has swallowed something dangerous, call a veterinarian or a poison-control service right away instead of waiting to see whether symptoms develop.
Decorations that cause the most serious harm
Decorations are a common cause of holiday trouble because many are small, shiny, and designed to hang at nose height or lower. The hazards fall into three groups: things that can block the digestive tract, things that can burn or shock, and things that can cut or choke.
Tinsel, ribbon, garland, and string-like confetti
Tinsel, garland, ribbons, and other string-like material can obstruct or injure the intestines if swallowed. Cats are especially prone to this because they play with string and thread, and a swallowed string can anchor in the stomach or intestine while the rest of it keeps moving. Do not pull on a string that is hanging from your pet’s mouth or rear end. Pulling can tear tissue. Take your pet to a veterinarian instead.
Cords, light strings, and batteries
Chewed electrical cords can cause burns or electrocution. Punctured batteries can burn the mouth and esophagus, so keep button and coin-cell batteries out of reach and check that battery compartments on toys and decorations are secured. Keep light strings unplugged when no one is supervising the room, and use a cord cover on exposed runs along the floor. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidance supports cord covers as a practical barrier.
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Ornaments, snow globes, salt dough, and candles
- Broken ornaments can cause cuts to the mouth and paws and can be a choking hazard. Sweep up glass promptly.
- Snow globes may contain ethylene glycol, a toxic antifreeze ingredient. If one breaks, clean up the liquid immediately and keep pets out of the area.
- Salt-dough ornaments and ice melt can cause dangerous salt and electrolyte effects if eaten.
- Candles can burn a pet or start a fire if knocked over. Use them only when someone can watch the room.
Holiday foods that are dangerous for dogs
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s dog-specific food list, updated in December 2024, names the following items. The list is written for dogs. It does not establish the same risks for cats, and the specific effect is stated only where the source describes it.
| Food | Reported risk to dogs (Cornell, updated December 2024) |
|---|---|
| Grapes and raisins | Acute kidney failure |
| Xylitol-containing products | Dangerously low blood sugar, seizures, and liver damage |
| Fatty foods | Pancreatitis |
| Bones | Choking or obstruction |
| Yeast dough | Can expand and ferment in the stomach |
| Chocolate | Listed; specific effect not stated in this source |
| Coffee and caffeine | Listed; specific effect not stated in this source |
| Onions and garlic | Listed; specific effect not stated in this source |
| Raw meat | Listed; specific effect not stated in this source |
| Salty snacks | Listed; specific effect not stated in this source |
| Corn cobs | Listed; specific effect not stated in this source |
| Alcohol | Listed; specific effect not stated in this source |
| Macadamia nuts | Listed; specific effect not stated in this source |
Listing a food does not mean every pet will react the same way. A small amount of a food that is harmful to dogs may cause no symptoms, and a large amount may cause serious illness. Treat any listed item as something to keep out of reach rather than something to test.
Wrapped food gifts, cookie plates on low tables, and garbage bags with holiday leftovers are the most common ways pets reach these foods. Store trash in a closed container behind a closed door, and place gifts of food on high surfaces the pet cannot reach.
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Christmas plants: what each one can do
Plant risks differ by species and by plant, so a single rule for “holiday plants” does not work. The table below summarizes what the veterinary sources state.
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| Plant | Cats | Dogs |
|---|---|---|
| Lilies (including many holiday bouquet lilies) | Kidney failure. The ASPCA specifically warns about bouquet lilies in cats. This is the most urgent plant concern for cats. | Kidney failure, per Cornell. |
| Poinsettia | Mouth and stomach irritation. The ASPCA describes mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal irritation. Species-specific detail not stated. | Mouth and stomach irritation, per Cornell. Species-specific detail beyond this not stated. |
| Holly and mistletoe | Gastrointestinal illness. The ASPCA also notes potential cardiovascular problems. | Gastrointestinal illness. The ASPCA also notes potential cardiovascular problems. |
Poinsettia is often described as deadly. The veterinary sources reviewed describe it as causing irritation, not severe poisoning in most cases. A pet that eats part of a poinsettia still needs a call to a veterinarian if vomiting, drooling, or diarrhea develops, but the plant alone is not usually an emergency of the same kind as a lily exposure in a cat.
The Christmas tree and tree water
Secure the tree against tipping, especially if a dog or cat climbs or pushes against it. A falling tree can injure a pet and break ornaments into pieces.
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Pine needles can irritate the mouth and cause vomiting, diarrhea, obstruction, or perforation if swallowed, according to Cornell’s dog guidance. Tree water is a separate hazard. The ASPCA and AVMA both warn that tree-stand water may contain bacteria or preservatives that make pets ill. Cover the stand or block access to it with a barrier, and do not add plant food or other additives to water that a pet can reach.
Not every natural tree is poisonous, and the sources do not support that claim. The risk comes from what a pet swallows: needles, water, and the materials the tree is decorated with.
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Holiday visitors often bring the most dangerous items in the house. Keep guests’ medications, including sleep aids and anxiety medications, in a closed bag or a room the pet cannot enter. Ask visitors to keep their purses and coats on a bed or hook that pets cannot reach.
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Do not give your pet any medication intended for a person, and do not give a pet medication that was not prescribed for that animal. If your pet is prone to anxiety during gatherings, talk to a veterinarian before the holiday. Cornell recommends discussing anxiety medication with a veterinarian in advance where appropriate, so the plan is in place before the visitors arrive.
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Holiday disruption is a stressor for many pets, and stressed animals are more likely to bolt through an open door or investigate things they would otherwise ignore. Keep meal times and walks as close to normal as possible. Set up a quiet, safe retreat, such as a bedroom or crate with bedding, water, and a toy, where the pet can rest without visitors.
Use a baby gate or pet gate to restrict unsupervised access to rooms with decorated trees, food, or open cords. Cornell names baby gates as one option. Gates reduce access but do not prevent every accident, so keep decorated rooms closed when no one is watching. Check the gate’s height and mounting before buying, because a determined dog or a cat that can jump may be able to get over or around some models. The sources reviewed do not establish which models or mounting methods work best, so verify the fit for your doorway.
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What to do if your pet has eaten something dangerous
- Remove any remaining item from your pet’s reach, and keep the pet separated from the area so it cannot eat more.
- Call a veterinarian or a poison-control service as soon as you suspect exposure. Do not wait for symptoms. The numbers listed by Cornell are:
- ASPCA Poison Control: 888-426-4435
- Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661
Fees may apply to these services, and hours or procedures may change, so confirm the current details when you call.
- Gather the information the veterinarian or poison-control specialist will ask for: your pet’s breed, age, and weight, the symptoms you have seen and when they started, and the product container or a sample of the plant. Keep the package or leaf sample in a sealed bag.
- Ask before any home treatment. Do not give anything by mouth to make your pet vomit or to counter the substance unless a veterinarian or poison-control specialist tells you to.
- Go to an emergency hospital if your veterinarian is closed. Identify a nearby 24-hour emergency hospital before the holidays, as Cornell recommends, so you are not searching for one during an emergency.
Cornell’s veterinary staff have made the same point in a 2017 interview with companion animal veterinarian Leni Kaplan. She said: “Contact a veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet ingested any dangerous foods, items or if they are not acting right.” Her advice applies even when symptoms are mild or absent.
What these sources do and do not establish
- Cornell’s dog food list was updated in December 2024. The ASPCA holiday checklist does not show a publication date in the copy reviewed, and the AVMA brochure is marked “revised 9/10” without a year.
- The sources cover dogs and cats. They do not provide holiday-specific poisoning or injury statistics, so this article does not estimate how often these incidents occur.
- The guidance is written for U.S. pet owners. Poison-control numbers and emergency hospital availability will differ in other countries.
Use the lists above to prioritize prevention in your home, and keep the two phone numbers in your phone before the holiday begins.
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