What can dogs eat for Christmas dinner?

Christmas is a time for making magical memories with loved ones - and that includes our dogs! Since they’re part of the family, it's only natural we want them to join the festive fun. But before you fill their bowl with leftovers, it's important to know what’s safe and what could harm them.

Let's explore what dogs can eat from Christmas dinner, which festive foods are dangerous, and how to prepare a dog-friendly Christmas dinner that's both delicious and safe.

In this guide: 

• Safe Christmas foods for dogs
• Dangerous Christmas foods for dogs
• Dog friendly Christmas treats
• Tips for keeping your dog safe at Christmas
• What to do if your dog eats something they shouldn’t
• Final festive reminders

Safe Christmas foods for dogs

If you're treating your dog to an extra-special dinner on Christmas Day, the number one tip is to keep it simple, plain and unseasoned. Make sure any meat is lean (not fatty) and remove all bones, skin, and stuffing. All vegetables should be boiled or steamed, without salt, oil, butter, milk or seasoning.

Here's some plain food you can include in a dog Christmas dinner: 

• Unsalted, boneless, white turkey meat
• Chicken breast (plain and skinless)
• Mashed or boiled potato.
• Carrots
• Peas
• Broccoli
• Swede (mashed or chopped)
• Parsnips
• Green beans
• Cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts (beware of the smelly consequences, though!)

Most cheeses are okay for dogs to eat in small quantities as part of a balanced diet (if your dog is not lactose intolerant). Be sure to avoid blue cheeses and slabs with added ingredients that are toxic or dangerous to dogs, like fruit, nuts, or garlic.

Tip: To make life easier, many pet food brands now offer ready-made Christmas dinners for dogs packed with lean meat and vegetables while providing the vitamins and minerals your pooch needs.  

Dangerous Christmas foods for dogs

Unfortunately, lots of the festive treats we love to indulge in are unsafe for our dogs to eat, and some can even be toxic.

Here are some common Christmas foods that your dog can’t eat:

• Yorkshire puddings
• Pigs in blankets
• Cured meat, fatty meat or meat skin
• Christmas pudding
• Christmas cake
• Mince pies
• Chocolate
• Bread, crackers, or crisps
• Grapes and dried fruit (raisins, sultanas)
• Nuts (especially macadamia nuts)
• Sauces (e.g. gravy, mint sauce, shop-bought cranberry sauce, shop-bought apple sauce, cheese sauce, etc.)
• Dairy, blue cheese or cheese with harmful additions (e.g. fruit, nuts, garlic, onion)
• Alcohol or foods containing it
• Anything containing xylitol (an artificial sweetener)
• Stuffing (contains garlic and onion - both toxic to dogs) 

Can my dog have canine-friendly fizz?

Most fizzy drinks contain additives that are unsuitable for dogs to consume. Your dog may struggle to digest fizzy drinks, too. Even if a drink’s label suggests it’s ‘safe for dogs’ (e.g. dog beer, dog champagne, dog wine, etc.), flavoured and/or fizzy drinks are unsafe for your canine companion. 

Your dog should always have access to unflavoured, fresh, clean, drinking water.

Are dogs allowed stuffing?

Although it might be part of your Christmas dinner, your dog shouldn’t eat stuffing. As well as containing garlic and onion (which are toxic to dogs), stuffing tends to be made with fats and flavourings that aren’t safe for your canine companion either.

Can my dog have gravy?

It’s generally recommended not to let your dog have ‘gravy jelly’ or gravy made from granules, because it’s very high in salt. Onion gravy is especially dangerous for dogs – and, since most gravy made for human consumption contains onion or garlic powder, other gravies aren’t suitable for our canine companions either.

If you’d love for your best fur-iend to enjoy some gravy with their Christmas dinner, you should be able to find dog-safe gravy at your local pet shop.

Can my dog eat Yorkshire puddings?

Yorkshire puddings can be challenging for dogs to digest due to their high fat and salt content, so these should be avoided all year around - not just at Christmas.

How to make Christmas dinner for your dog

Cooking your dog’s Christmas dinner is simple and fun - and the best part is that it can be prepared alongside your family’s festive meal. Follow these easy steps inspired by our Joii Pet Care experts:

Step 1: Prepare the ingredients
Set aside your dog’s portion before adding flavourings or fat to the main meal.

Step 2: Cook safely
Boil or steam the vegetables and cook the meat thoroughly. Avoid cross-contamination with stuffing or onions (treat your dog’s food as if cooking for someone with allergies).

Step 3: Make a dog-safe gravy
Blend some cooked carrot or peas with warm water to create a mild ‘gravy’ sauce. Avoid shop-bought gravies or beef stock, which are often high in salt and may contain onion.

Step 4: Serve carefully
Allow food to cool before serving and consider using a slow-feeder bowl to stop overeating.

Portion size guidance

It can be tricky to know how much food to add into our dogs’ festive meals. Your dog’s Christmas dinner should complement their normal meals, not replace them completely. Too much rich food can cause tummy upsets.

It can be helpful to consider the following factors:

• Their size (for example, smaller dogs naturally eat less)
• Their weight (for example, overweight dogs may be on a restricted diet)
• Their activity levels (for example, active dogs are likely to burn more energy)

However, as a general guide, here’s what we’d recommend for a dog-friendly Christmas dinner:

• 1 thin slice of turkey or chicken
• 2 teaspoons of mashed potato or 1 small boiled potato
• 1–2 tablespoons of vegetables
• A splash of dog-friendly gravy

Important: If your dog has a medical condition or is on a special diet, always check with your vet before feeding them a Christmas meal. 

Dog-friendly Christmas treats

If your dog can’t eat a full Christmas dinner due to allergies or diet restrictions, they can still enjoy the following festive snacks in small quantities:

• Raw carrot batons
• Celery sticks
• Plain, fresh cranberries
• Apple slices (cored, without seeds)

You can also try some Christmas dog treat recipes like these delicious dog biscuits, or other homemade treats so they don’t miss out on the festive fun! 

Tips for keeping your dog safe at Christmas

1. Keep food out of paws' reach

Ensuring that no potentially toxic foods are left anywhere that your dog can reach is the easiest way to prevent them from getting their paws on something they shouldn’t. It may be easier to invest in a baby gate for the kitchen door to ensure that there is no way for your pets to slip through whilst you’re preparing and cooking food.

Another tip is to put any extra food that needs throwing out in a bin bag and take it to an outside bin right away. This should hopefully ensure that your pets aren’t able to knock over the bin or rip through the bag if they can smell something tempting inside.

2. Set rules for guests

With more family and friends around at Christmas, it’s easy for your dog to charm guests into sharing food. When they arrive, make sure everyone knows not to feed your pup, no matter how persuasive those puppy-dog eyes may be!

If your dog is especially skilled at getting what they want from those around them, then why not have some dog-friendly treats prepared? That way, if your guests struggle to say ‘no’ when your dog asks for food, they’ll have a safe treat to give them instead.

3. Distract them during dinner

Puzzle toys can keep your dog entertained, allowing you to enjoy a Christmas dinner free from pleading puppy eyes! By playing with toys that are specially designed to test their problem-solving skills, your dog can unleash their brainpower and exercise natural hunting behaviours at the same time.

Walkies before dinnertime are a great way to use up lots of your dog’s energy, prior to expecting them to sit quietly while you enjoy Christmas dinner. Taking your canine companion for a long walk before dinner is served should shorten the time they spend begging you to share, and increase the stint of their snooze!

Feeding your dog before your Christmas dinner is ready is another helpful way to lessen their need to pester you at the dinner table.

4. Watch out for other festive hazards

As well as toxic and unsafe foods, there are a few other Christmassy items your dog might eat that could pose a danger to them. These include:

• Christmas tree pine needles
• Tinsel
• Decorations
• Fairy lights
• Crackers (and their contents!)
• Wreaths
• Toys
• Poisonous plants (e.g. holly, mistletoe, ivy, etc.)

To prevent your dog or puppy wreaking havoc, try to keep tempting decorations high up, switch off lights when unsupervised, and supervise your dog around the tree.

What to do if your dog eats something they shouldn't

In the event your dog eats something they shouldn’t, it’s vital that you contact a vet straight away - even if your dog isn’t showing any symptoms.

Your dog will need urgent medical care if they’ve eaten something toxic or poisonous. But, with the bustle of Christmas, we realise it’s possible for pet parents not to see their dog swipe something they shouldn’t have eaten. 

So, here are the symptoms of toxic ingestion you’ll need to look out for: 

• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Lethargy (quieter than usual)
• Trembling
• Drooling
• Pale gums
• Agitation

Serious cases of toxic ingestion could result in life-threatening reactions, including convulsions, kidney failure, and heart problems.

If your dog has eaten a non-food item (e.g. tinsel, pine needles etc.), it can take a few days before it becomes obvious. As well as displaying the above symptoms, other signs to look out for in case your dog has ingested something inedible could be:

• Choking
• Reduced appetite
• Constipation
• Hunched back or ‘prayer position’ (rear end in the air due to stomach pain)

Important: Your dog will need to see a vet if they’ve eaten a non-food item.

Final Festive reminders

As much as we all want to spoil our dogs at Christmas time, keeping them safe and healthy should come first. Avoid sharing rich or toxic festive foods, keep bins and decorations out of reach, and remind visitors that not every treat on the table is suitable for your pup. By sticking to your dog’s usual feeding routine and checking ingredient labels carefully, you can help prevent any unwanted trips to the vet.

To make sure you’re fully prepared, you can always have a quick chat with the experts over at Joii Pet Care before the big day. They’re available 24/7 to offer advice on what you can feed your dog this festive season, so you can relax knowing your furry family member can enjoy a dog-friendly Christmas dinner safely and happily. 

Related resources

• 5 dangerous foods for dogs
• How to protect your Christmas presents from dogs
• All dog advice