The festive season brings delicious food, family gatherings, and joyful celebrations — but for our pets, Christmas can also mean hidden dangers on the dining table. At Lilydale Vet Centre, we see many cases each year where well-meaning owners accidentally share snacks that can make their pets very sick.
The good news? With a little knowledge, you can keep your pets safe and let them join in the fun with some healthy, pet-friendly treats.
Unsafe Christmas Snacks for Pets
Many traditional holiday foods are unsafe — even in small amounts. Here are some to avoid:
High-fat meats (like fatty barbecue cuts, sausages, pork crackling, or turkey skin): These can trigger pancreatitis, a painful and potentially dangerous inflammation of the pancreas. Avoid sharing fatty leftovers.
Macadamia nuts:Toxic to dogs, causing vomiting, tremors, fever, weakness, increased heart rate, and hyperthermia in dogs.
Raisins and grapes: Just a few can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs.
Chocolate and cocoa: Contain theobromine and caffeine, toxic to both dogs and cats, leading to vomiting, seizures, and even death.
Christmas Lilies are dangerously toxic to cats; even drinking the water in the vase can expose them to this dangerously toxic plant. If you have cats, you’d best have no ornamental bouquets.
Xylitol (found in sugar-free sweets and gums): Causes rapid insulin release in dogs, leading to dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) or liver failure.
Black licorice: who knew this crowd favourite could cause nasty liver disease in dogs – be sure to keep your candy to yourself.
Lilydale’s Tip: Always remind guests not to feed pets from their plates — it’s the easiest way to prevent an emergency visit. Instead, save small amounts of lean meat cut and dog-safe veggies for your little friend to enjoy later.
Safe Christmas Snack Options for Pets
It’s not all “no” this Christmas! There are plenty of healthy, pet-safe options your furry friend can enjoy.
Lean meats: Cooked, skinless chicken breast, turkey, or lean beef cuts. Bake or boil without sauces, spices, or salt.
Vegetables: Plain cooked carrots, green beans, pumpkin, or sweet potato — baked or steamed and unseasoned.
Fruits: Small pieces of peeled apple, banana, blueberry, or watermelon (avoid seeds and pits).
Homemade treats: Try baking your own pet snacks. For example, low-bake some fresh chicken breast into jerky or thinly slice a sweet potato and bake it into chewy, nutritious chips. Homemade treats let you control quality — with no preservatives, additives, or mystery ingredients.
Lilydale Idea:Freshly baked chicken jerky or sweet potato chews make a thoughtful, healthy Christmas gift for your pet (and your friends’ pets, too!).
Tips for Safe Festive Feeding
Introduce any new food slowly and in small portions.
Avoid seasoned or leftover human foods — gravies, sauces, and stuffing often hide toxins.
Keep edible gifts, chocolates, and snacks out of reach — pets are clever when it comes to sniffing out treats!
Enjoy the Season Safely
Christmas should be filled with joy — not emergency vet visits. By knowing what’s unsafe and offering safe, wholesome alternatives, you can keep your pets healthy while still including them in the celebration.
If your pet has eaten something unsafe, call Lilydale Vet Centre right away for advice or an urgent visit.
Outside our regular hours, our sister clinic, VetLand Hospital & Emergency,is available 24/7 — their team is ready to assist whenever you need them.
Let’s keep every tail wagging and every heart happy this festive season.
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