To keep your dog safe during a game-day party, feed it its regular food or a pet-appropriate treat, keep human snacks and drinks out of reach, give it a quiet room it can retreat to, and know the poison-control number before guests arrive. Most game-day emergencies come from ordinary party food, a dropped pill, or a leftover bone, not from anything exotic. The same precautions apply to cats and other household pets, though the risks differ by species, so the dog-specific points are called out below.
Before guests arrive
- Pick a retreat room now. Choose a room with a door, away from the television and the kitchen traffic. Put a familiar bed, a water bowl, and a few of the pet’s toys inside before the first guest rings the bell.
- Plan the pet’s own food. The ASPCA’s February 6, 2025 game-day checklist recommends offering a bowl of the pet’s regular food or special treats in place of human party food.
- Tell guests the rules. Ask them to keep their plates, drinks, purses, and bags out of reach, and to store personal items in a closed room if possible.
- Confirm the emergency contacts. Save your veterinarian’s number and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center line, (888) 426-4435, which is the US number listed on the ASPCA page. Outside the US, use your local veterinary emergency clinic or national pet poison hotline instead.
Food: what to keep away from pets
Party food is the biggest source of risk. Some items are toxic, others are dangerous because of their fat or salt content, and some are physically hazardous. Risk depends on the species, how much was eaten, and, for plants, which part was eaten. A listed item does not produce the same effect in every animal.
| Party item | Why it is a concern | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate and chocolate desserts | Listed as toxic to pets | ASPCA game-day guidance |
| Onion and garlic, including foods containing them | Listed as toxic to pets | ASPCA game-day guidance |
| Grapes and raisins | Listed as toxic to pets | ASPCA Super Bowl article, February 10, 2022 |
| Macadamia nuts | Listed as toxic to pets | ASPCA Super Bowl article, February 10, 2022 |
| Alcohol and caffeine | Listed as hazards to pets | ASPCA Super Bowl article, February 10, 2022 |
| Wings, pizza, creamy dips, chips, and other salty or fatty snacks | Can cause gastrointestinal upset; fatty foods may contribute to pancreatitis | ASPCA game-day guidance |
| Cooked chicken, turkey, and other soft bones | Can splinter and injure the mouth or digestive tract | AVMA Household Hazards brochure |
| Bones, corn cobs, and avocado pits | Can cause gastrointestinal obstruction even when toxicity is not the concern | FDA, Potentially Dangerous Items for Your Pet (accessed October 7, 2026) |
Avoid giving any “people treat” as a reward. Even snacks that look harmless can carry onion, garlic, or sweeteners. The ASPCA’s pet snack recipe guidance, dated February 1, 2019, advises checking every ingredient, keeping treats in moderation, and being cautious with xylitol, a sugar substitute that appears in many baked goods and sugar-free products.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Don’t leave drinks unattended. A glass left on a side table is an easy target. Guests should carry drinks with them.
- Don’t ignore the trash. Bags of food scraps, bones, and wrappers are often what pets find first. Clear plates and trash throughout the party, not only at the end.
- Don’t leave medications or recreational substances within reach. A dropped pill or a purse on the floor is enough. Keep personal items in a closed room.
- Don’t toss snack bags into the open. FDA describes a suffocation risk if a dog gets its head caught in a thin food bag. Fold or throw them away in a closed bin.
- Don’t assume leftovers are safe the next day. The ASPCA warns that pets may find hazardous leftovers after the party is over, so clear the table and bin the scraps before bed.
- Don’t feed bones. Cooked poultry bones splinter and can injure the mouth and gut.
Keeping your pet calm when guests are over
Noise, unfamiliar faces, and a change in routine can overwhelm some animals. PDSA’s June 29, 2026 match-season advice, from its UK-based vet nursing team, makes the same point about visitors and routine. Dogs and cats are creatures of habit, so a house full of visitors can leave them feeling overwhelmed. These steps help many pets, though no single setup works for every animal.
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Give the pet a choice
Let the pet decide whether to join in. A quiet room, bed, or familiar hiding place away from visitors and the television gives it a way out. PDSA’s advice is not to force an uncomfortable pet to socialize. Ask guests to leave resting animals alone and to let the pet approach them at its own pace.
Keep the routine as steady as possible
Feed, walk, and settle the pet at its usual times. Reduce sudden noises where you can, such as loud cheering, shouting, or a door slamming. Keep the retreat room free of guests so the pet can access it at any time.
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Watch for stress signs
PDSA lists the following as possible signs that a pet is overwhelmed:
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- Panting when not hot or after exercise
- Hiding under furniture or in another room
- Trembling
- Seeking reassurance by staying close to you or following you around
If the pet shows these signs, move it to the retreat room. A pet that is repeatedly stressed may need a calmer plan for future gatherings.
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If your pet eats something it shouldn’t
Act quickly. The AVMA says time is critical, and the FDA advises calling a veterinarian or poison-control center right away. The ASPCA’s guidance is to contact a veterinarian or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately if toxic ingestion is suspected.
- Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (US). Outside the US, call your local vet or national pet poison hotline.
- Have these details ready: your pet’s breed, age, and weight; the symptoms you are seeing; and the product container or a sample of the plant.
- Follow the professional’s instructions exactly. Do not induce vomiting or try home treatment unless a veterinarian or poison-control professional tells you to.
- Take the packaging or plant sample with you to the clinic if you are going in.
Choosing treats for the day
The safest option is the pet’s regular food or a treat made for pets. Before offering any treat, check the ingredient list for onion, garlic, chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, xylitol, and high-fat or salty ingredients. Give treats in moderation, and consider the pet’s diet, allergies, size, and any advice from your veterinarian.
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A treat-dispensing toy can help keep a dog busy during a party. Check that the toy is sized for the animal’s size and chewing habits, that you can clean it, and that you can supervise your pet while it uses the toy. Those product attributes depend on the specific toy and are not guaranteed by any safety guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Ask yourself before the first guest walks in
If you can say yes to each of these, your pet is in a good position for game day: the retreat room is ready, the pet has its own food or treats, party food and drinks are out of reach, the bins are closed, and the veterinary and poison-control numbers are saved in your phone.
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