Pet hazards to watch out for during holidays

Between nosy in-laws, cluttered kitchen surfaces, and expensive shopping lists, the holidays are stressful enough without factoring in our pets. Add a furry troublemaker to the mix, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

That said, the holidays are a time to gather with loved ones, and who do we love more than our pets? Incorporating your little scruffer into the seasonal festivities is not without its challenges, but as long as you familiarize yourself with the potential hazards—like toxins, choking on decorations, or overstimulation—you can take steps towards having a safe and joyous time with your pet. Let’s dive in.

Tips for pet owners during holidays (and beyond)

As you get wrapped up (pun intended) in the holiday excitement, don’t forget about your dog or cat. Who knows what kind of mischief they’re getting into while you’re busy baking or decorating or watching It’s a Wonderful Life for the umpteenth time. But you don’t want to spend your holidays in an animal hospital or scouring the neighborhood for a pet that got out.

Read on for tips to keep your pet safe before, during, and after the holidays.

Toxic food safety

There’s no shortage of food during the holidays. Naturally, you’ll want to avoid letting your pet get into something they shouldn’t. For example, chocolate is a big deal on Valentine’s Day, Easter, and, well, every holiday. You probably know it’s dangerous to dogs, but did you know it can be fatal to cats as well? Small amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea in pets, while large amounts can lead to seizures, problems with the heart, and in severe cases, death.

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👉 Read our guides on “people food” that is considered toxic to dogs and cats.

Alcoholic drink safety

When you set down your holiday eggnog or Cinco de Mayo margarita or ‘Witches Brew’ Halloween cocktail, make sure it’s out of reach for your furry friend. Pets can experience alcohol poisoning from a much smaller concentration of booze than humans do. Here are the symptoms of ethanol overdose to look out for:

• Drooling. Excess salivation is a telltale sign that your dog or cat has ingested alcohol.
• Incoordination. Much like humans, pets may have trouble walking or moving around if they have too much alcohol in their system, which, again, doesn’t require much for their smaller stature.
• Lethargy. Your pet may not want to get up or seem weak if they’ve had alcohol.
• Vomiting and diarrhea. Gastrointestinal duress like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are all common for pets that are experiencing an ethanol overdose.
• Difficulty breathing. Another early sign of alcohol poisoning in pets is labored or rapid breathing.
• Severe symptoms. If your pet has a seizure, goes into a coma, or has respiratory failure, they are likely in an advanced stage of poisoning and require critical care.

🚨 Did your pet get into something they shouldn’t? Call your vet or the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline at (888) 426-4435 immediately for assistance.

Trash safety

With all of the cooking and gift unwrapping, you will accumulate more garbage than usual during the holidays. It may seem easier to just leave the trash bag on the floor for people to dump their leftovers, but this only makes it more accessible to your scavenging pet.

Be mindful of what you’re throwing away, like foods that could be dangerous to animals, wrappers, and other plastics that could get stuck in your dog’s intestines if ingested. Having a secure trash can with a lid will go a long way in keeping it out of your pet’s mouth, and be sure to take it out before it starts to overflow.

Door safety

If you’re hosting a holiday gathering, you’ll certainly have a lot of guests coming in and out. This creates many opportunities for your pet to mosey on outside without supervision. This can be especially dangerous if it’s a holiday with fireworks or other loud noises that send your dog or cat running. Holidays can be stressful for animals, so it’s not uncommon for them to try to escape all the commotion. Make a sign asking guests to keep the door closed or consider leaving your furbabies in a secure place like a playpen, crate, or a room with a closed door while people are arriving and leaving.

Holidays that present pet hazards

While pet owners should be mindful of risks year-round, some occasions can be more dangerous than others when it comes to our animal pals. Here are the holidays that present pet hazards, and the challenges to be aware of:

Valentine’s Day

We’ve mentioned that chocolate is far from pet-friendly. While this cocoa-based delicacy is incorporated into most holidays, Valentine’s Day is the one that’s the most commonly associated with the sweet treat.

It’s important for pet owners to understand why chocolate is such a danger. The chemicals theobromine [thee-uh-broh-meen] and caffeine—both found in chocolate—are what’s toxic to animals. The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine and caffeine. These substances speed up a pet’s heart rate and wreak havoc on their nervous system.

And while white chocolate has a smaller concentration of theobromine, it does contain high levels of fat and sugar, which leads to upset stomachs. And if xylitol is used as a sweetener, it could cause a rapid decrease in blood sugar that leads to seizures, liver failure, or even death.

So, as you dig into the heart-shaped box of tiny chocolates next Valentine’s Day, be sure to keep it far away from your begging pet. Likewise, the bouquet of flowers you bring home to your significant other may be a sweet gift, but it can pose a threat to animals. Read our guides on flowers and houseplants deemed safe (and unsafe) for dogs and cats.

Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, and Independence Day

As we enter the spring and summer months, holiday gatherings turn to outdoor barbecues and parties, presenting a whole new set of risks to our pets. Here are the pet hazards to keep in mind as you celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, Independence Day, or other warm-weather festivities:

• Fireworks. Dogs aren’t exactly subtle about their fear of fireworks. On the same token, cats can become distressed by loud noises. This often leads to pets running away, putting them at risk of getting hit by a car or attacked by another animal. If you’re busting out the noise-makers, make sure your pet is secure inside first, and talk to your vet about anxiety medications so they don’t get too scared.
• Outdoors. Fireworks or not, you may be too distracted during your outdoor gathering to make sure your pet hasn’t wandered off, chewed up a stick, or gotten into some garden plants they shouldn’t. If you don’t have a fenced-in yard, make sure your pet understands recall or consider putting them on a long lead.
• Dropped food. Inside or outside, you’ll want to keep your pet from getting into food that gets dropped by clumsy relatives or kids. This is especially important if you have a piñata that’s spilling candy all over the ground.
• Reactivity. As you walk your dog (or cat!) during these warm-weather holidays, be mindful of public celebrations you may run into that can trigger your pet’s reactivity. This could include parades, street fairs, or neighborhood block parties.

Halloween

Another candy-heavy holiday that poses risks to pets is Halloween. In addition to all the sweets going around, you’ll want to be careful when it comes to pet costumes, decorations, and trick-or-treaters. Here are the factors to keep in mind when preparing for this spooky holiday as a pet owner:

• Candy. When kids get home from trick-or-treating, they probably can’t wait to spill their pillowcases full of candy onto the floor and begin their sugary feast. As you try to hide some of these wrapped treats from your kids to cut down on dental costs, be sure to keep your pets away as well. Likewise, you should be mindful of the bowl of candy you’ve prepared for your own visitors and whether your dog or cat can get into it.
• Visitors. Speaking of visitors, trick-or-treaters continually ringing the doorbell may send your pet into a tizzy. There’s also the risk of them getting out as you open the door to people. If your pet is reactive, they could instinctively bite a kid, which is both a safety and liability concern. They also may choose to run away from the stress of the situation. Set up a gate that blocks pets from getting to the door, or leave the bowl of candy at the end of your driveway to cut down on stress.
• Costumes. There’s nothing cuter than a dog or cat wearing a tiny costume, but it’s important to be safe when dressing up your pet. For starters, it can be stressful for a pet to wear a costume, so take it off if they seem anxious. You’ll also want to be careful not to put them in anything that restricts movement or covers their face. Read this guide before applying paint to your dog, even if it’s labeled as “pet-safe.”
• Decorations. As you spookify your home next Halloween, be careful of rubber eyeballs, lit candles, or balloons that can be harmful to pets. Glow sticks, for example, contain a substance that’s toxic to animals. Spiderwebs and string lights are also easy for smaller pets to get tangled in. And while pureed or baked pumpkin is safe for cats and dogs in moderation, the pulp in your jack-o-lantern is high in fiber and can cause GI upset.

Thanksgiving and December holidays

It’s the most wonderful/stressful/chaotic time of the year! The celebrations are in full swing with holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and more. Here’s what pet owners should watch out for as the year comes to a close:

• Food. Thanksgiving is only the beginning of the non-stop feasting that takes place at the end of the year. As mentioned, you’ll need to be on high alert for any foods considered toxic to pets (here’s that dog and cat guide again) and keep them out of paws reach. Be sure to clean up any dropped food, secure all trash, and stop your relatives from handing out food scraps.
• Fire hazards. Holidays like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa have rituals that involve lighting candles. Regardless of what you’re celebrating, be careful of pets (especially counter-surfing cats) knocking over any lit candles and burning themselves or starting a fire. String lights can also be a fire or electrocution risk for pets that mess with them.
• Choking risks. Whether it’s an ornament or a dreidel that’s left on the floor, pets may be on the prowl for any decorations or seasonal accessories they feel inclined to chew up. This leads to a risk of choking or internal blockage.
• Christmas trees. Before you bring home a real Christmas tree, be aware of the risks they pose to pets. The sharp pine needles can cause internal damage if ingested. Pets may also try to drink the stagnant tree water, which is full of bacteria. If you use fertilizer to keep it fresh, this can also cause nausea and diarrhea in animals. Also be careful of letting your pets ingest other Christmas plants, like holly.

The holidays can be stressful with pets, but you shouldn’t let it ruin your festive gatherings. As long as you take preventative steps to keep your furry friends safe, you can enjoy celebrating with the people (and animals) you love.

Frequently asked questions

What are the holiday hazards for pets?

Holiday hazards for pets include foods that are toxic to animals, decorations that are choking hazards, fireworks and other loud noises that induce stress, and doors left open for pets to get out.

What do people do with pets when they go on holiday?

If you’re unable to bring your pet with you on vacation or to a holiday gathering, consider leaving them with a trusted dog sitter or a daycare that offers overnight boarding.

Are holidays stressful for dogs?

Between loud noises and visitors coming in and out, holidays can be very stressful for dogs. Consult your vet if you’re worried about your dog’s anxiety, and consider leaving them with someone else or putting them on medication to reduce their stress.

Can dogs recognize holidays?

While dogs do not understand holidays per se, they can recognize changes to their environments. This includes holiday decorations, more food than usual, and frequent visitors.