Toxic Candies & Holiday Foods: What NOT to Share with Your Dog This Season
By Penny Thompson, Hobo’s Healing Heart Board Member
The holidays are full of joy — family gathered around the table, the smell of fresh cookies, kids sneaking candy canes off the tree. It’s a season of celebration and love. But for our four-legged family members, the very foods that make our holidays festive can bring danger.
At Hobo’s Healing Heart, we’ve seen the heartbreak when a beloved dog ends up in the emergency vet after getting into something they shouldn’t have. Most people don’t realize just how toxic some holiday favorites can be for pets. A single piece of sugar-free gum, or a handful of raisins from a fruitcake, can be enough to trigger a crisis.
Chocolate is the classic culprit. From candy bars to chocolate-dipped cookies, it seems to be everywhere this time of year. Unfortunately, even a little can cause serious problems in dogs — vomiting, tremors, and in the worst cases, seizures.
Sugar-free treats are just as dangerous. Many holiday gums and candies are made with xylitol, a sweetener that can cause life-threatening drops in blood sugar and even liver failure. Symptoms can appear in as little as 15 minutes.
Grapes and raisins are another big risk. You’ll find them in fruitcakes, cookies, and holiday snack mixes, and there’s no safe amount for dogs. Even one or two can lead to kidney failure.
Even our favorite savory foods can be risky — bones that splinter, rich gravies that trigger pancreatitis, and seasonings like onions or garlic that are toxic to dogs. And while it might feel festive to offer your pup “just a sip” of wine or beer, alcohol affects them much more quickly than us and can be fatal.
So what can you do if your dog sneaks a treat? Act fast. Call your veterinarian or one of the pet poison hotlines right away. Having the label or package handy can help your vet decide on the best next step.
And don’t worry — you don’t have to leave your pup out of the celebration. There are plenty of safe ways to include them: a few bites of plain, lean turkey meat (no bones or seasoning), a dehydrated sweet potato chew, or even a festive dog-safe biscuit from your favorite pet shop.
The holidays should bring happy memories, not late-night vet visits. By keeping the dangerous foods out of paw’s reach and sticking to treats made just for dogs, you’re giving your best friend the gift of health and safety.
If your dog does eat something they shouldn’t, don’t wait — call your veterinarian right away or reach out to one of these 24/7 resources:
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661
And remember, at Hobo’s Healing Heart, our mission is to help keep families together by easing the financial burden of unexpected veterinary emergencies. We hope you’ll never need us, but we are here if you do.
From all of us at Hobo’s Healing Heart, may your season be filled with warmth, wagging tails, and safe celebrations.
