Dog Food safety - What food can dogs eat from the Christmas and other holiday celebration meals (and what they can’t)

Christmas and holidays in Australia usually means a full table of guests, happy chaos, and at least one dog sitting hopefully at your feet waiting for a taste. As much as we love sharing the festive fun with our pups, not all food on the dinner table is safe for dogs, some food can even be toxic.

Before those big puppy eyes convince you, here is a simple guide to what your dog can enjoy in small amounts, and what is best kept well out of reach this festive season. Have a dog safety talk with your guests

As your guests are seated and before food is served, raise your glass to celebrate and include a dog safety announcement. Some guests may not be dog owners or have outdated understandings of dog health and think giving a dog a cooked bone or a big hunk of fat they don't want to eat is a treat for your dog, when it can in fact be unsafe, costly and even deadly.

Don't be shy about setting the rules for not feeding the dog, you are their protector, even from your favourite people and from your dog itself! Explain to your guests that your dog is getting their own special meal and they do not need to give them treats or scraps.

Don't be shy about making a dog food safety announcement.

Christmas Foods That Are Safe for Dogs (In Moderation)

These foods should always be plain, unseasoned, and served in small portions.

Plain cooked turkey or chicken. Lean meat is fine as long as it has no skin, no seasoning, no stuffing, and no gravy. Make sure all bones are removed.

Ham (very small amounts only)Ham is salty, so this should be an occasional tiny treat rather than a generous serving. Skip it entirely for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Plain cooked vegetables Some festive veg can be dog friendly, including:

• Carrots

• Green beans

• Peas

• Sweet potato

• Pumpkin

They should be cooked without butter, garlic, onion, or seasoning.

Plain potatoes - Only if cooked and unseasoned. No butter, cream, salt, or gravy.

Apple slices - A nice crunchy treat, but remove the core and seeds first.

Keep your dog safe and happy this year around food

Christmas Foods Dogs Should Never Eat

These are common Christmas foods that can be dangerous or toxic for dogs.

Stuffing - Usually contains onion, garlic, herbs, and fats that can upset your dog’s stomach or worse.

Onion, garlic, leeks, and chives - These are toxic to dogs, whether cooked or raw.

Gravy and sauces - They often contain onion, garlic, salt, and fats that can cause pancreatitis.

Ham fat, turkey skin, and fatty scraps - High fat foods are a big trigger for stomach upsets and pancreatitis.

Chocolate - This one is well known but still worth repeating. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and should be kept completely out of reach.

Grapes, raisins, and currants - Often found in desserts, fruit platters, mince pies, and puddings. Even small amounts can be very dangerous.

Christmas pudding, fruit cake, and mince pies - These often contain raisins, alcohol, nutmeg, and other ingredients that are unsafe for dogs.

Alcohol - Even a small amount can be extremely harmful.

Macadamia nuts - Common in Christmas baking and very toxic to dogs.

A Safer Way to Include Your Dog

If you want your dog to feel part of the celebration without the risk, try setting aside a small “dog plate” made up of plain turkey and dog safe vegetables before you start cooking. That way you are not tempted to share from your own plate later.

You can also pop their treats into a puzzle toy or give them a safe Christmas chew to keep them busy while everyone eats.

We love including dogs in our celebrations and that often includes having them around food.

Christmas and Holiday and Memories That Last

Christmas moments with our dogs are often the ones we remember most. The quiet cuddles after lunch, the excited chaos when wrapping paper hits the floor, and those sleepy faces by the Christmas tree.

Keeping them safe around food means they get to enjoy the day just as much as we do, without an emergency vet visit spoiling the fun.

From my home to yours, Marvin and I hope you and your pups have a happy, safe, and delicious Christmas and holiday season.

xo Cristal