Your Holiday Dog Health Guide: Safety and Wellbeing Tips from a Vet

Holiday tables are full of foods that can genuinely harm dogs, even in tiny amounts. Across multiple veterinary sources, these are the most common festive dangers:

Toxic holiday foods to avoid completely:

• Grapes and raisins in fruitcakes, muffins, cookies
• Onions, garlic, leeks, chives in stuffing, gravy, marinades
• Chocolate especially dark
• Xylitol in sugar-free candy and desserts
• Macadamia nuts
• Alcohol in cakes or drinks

Many dogs get pancreatitis in December because of fatty scraps like turkey skin, gravy, roast fat, or cheese. Even small “harmless” bites can lead to vomiting and abdominal pain.

If friends and family want to treat your dog, keep a bowl of their actual food nearby, and encourage them to use that instead.

For sensitive digestion, keep meals gentle. Recipes like Turkey with Honey, Turkey with Quinoa, or Camel with Dates provide soothing, balanced nutrition without overwhelming the gut system.

Dogs don’t understand that your Christmas tree isn’t a giant edible puzzle. They interact with the world through their mouth and paws.

Common seasonal hazards:

• Tinsel can cause intestinal blockage
• Glass ornaments are tempting to bite and can shatter
• Electrical lights and wires can cause burns if chewed
• Snow globes may contain antifreeze
• Candles and essential oil diffusers may irritate airways
• Holiday plants like poinsettia, holly, amaryllis, lilies, and mistletoe can upset the stomach or be toxic

Try to place fragile or dangerous decorations higher on the tree, tape down wires, and supervise curious noses during the first few days when the tree is still “new and interesting.”

Festivities disrupt everything: meal times, walk times, sleep, noise levels, visitors coming and going. Dogs rely on routine more than we realize. When it vanishes, anxiety follows.

To help your dog feel grounded:

• Feed at the same times each day
• Keep walk schedules as close to normal as possible
• Maintain quiet time after meals
• Provide a “retreat zone” away from guests

If your dog is sensitive, set up a cozy room with their bed, toys, and fresh water. Let guests know that this is the dog’s space.

For anxious dogs, digestion often suffers first. The gut–brain connection is very real, and stress alone can cause loose stools or reduced appetite. In these cases, staying on a gentle, moisture-rich recipe makes all the difference.

Doorbells, kids running, unfamiliar voices, clinking dishes, music, fireworks… For a dog, it’s sensory overload.

Offer enrichment like licking mats, puzzle feeders, or stuffed Kongs with a small portion of their normal food. This keeps them busy and lowers cortisol naturally.

It’s cooler, so dogs drink less. But indoor heating, excitement, and busy environments cause sneaky dehydration.

Fresh food naturally provides high moisture, and this structured hydration is one of the easiest ways to protect kidney function, joints, and digestion when routines shift.

Add warm water or broth to meals if your dog seems less thirsty than usual.

Holiday boarding is one of the biggest triggers for digestive upset. Stress colitis is extremely common 48 to 72 hours after dogs return home.

To reduce risk:

• Do not change your dog’s diet right before boarding
• Pack enough food for extra days
• Avoid new treats during travel
• Stick to gentle options like GI Moderate Fat or GI Low Fat if your dog is sensitive

If you’re hosting at home, remind guests, especially kids, never to feed the dog without asking you first.

If you’re in a cooler region or traveling somewhere colder:

• Watch for cold pavements or icy sidewalks
• Dry paws after every walk
• Keep dogs in sight if visiting snowy areas, where scents are muted and dogs get lost more easily

In the UAE context, mornings and evenings stay safest, even in winter. Excitement + unusual walk times can lead to overexertion.

Many pet parents ask me: “What’s a safe, healthy festive treat I can give my dog?”
Your best options are real food they already tolerate well, not surprises.

• A spoon of warm bone broth
• A little mashed pumpkin
• A small amount of their Wunderdog recipe baked into bite-size cookies
• A puzzle feeder filled with their usual meal

For dogs struggling with appetite because of stress and routine change, Turkey with Honey or Camel with Dates often spark interest gently.

And if your dog is on a Wundercare therapeutic plan (renal, hepatic, pancreas, cardiac), please avoid all festive foods. Their diet is their treatment.

Festivities are beautiful, but they’re also overwhelming for dogs who depend on us to keep their world safe and predictable.

The best gift you can offer them is stability, steady food, reassurance, hydration, familiar routine, and a quiet space to breathe.

If you notice changes in appetite, stools, energy, or mood during December, reach out. You’re not bothering anyone, this is exactly why we’re here.

Wishing you and your four-legged family a warm, joyful, and healthy holiday season.
You bring the love. We’ll help keep them thriving through every celebration.