Toxic Treats Your Dog Must Avoid This Christmas

As the UK gets ready to deck the halls and gorge on all things delicious, our beloved dogs are right there with us, noses twitching for a tasty festive scrap. Christmas is a time of joy, family, and feasting—but for dog owners, it’s also a time of heightened risk.

New statistics show that dogs are up to 86% more likely to be treated for poisoned food in December compared to any other month. These emergency vet visits are often triggered by well-meaning owners (or guests!) sharing traditional Christmas foods that are highly toxic to our dogs.

At COYA Pet, we’re passionate about giving your dog the very best nutrition. We do this through our Freeze-Dried Raw food, treats, and toppers. We advocate for a clean, natural diet. That means keeping the harmful 'human food' hazards out of their bowl.

To ensure your Christmas is merry and not spent in the vet waiting room, here is your essential guide to the toxic festive foods you must keep out of your dog's reach this Christmas.

The Unseen Christmas Killer: Dried Vine Fruits

This is arguably the most common and dangerous Christmas culprit. Dried vine fruits—raisins, sultanas, and currants—are found in many of our favourite festive bakes.

• Mince Pies
• Christmas Pudding & Cake
• Stollen

The exact toxic agent is still unknown. However, even a small amount can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. Every dog is different, and some can react severely to a single raisin.

COYA Safety Tip: Keep all baked goods, fruit bowls, and even your baking ingredients locked away. Don't leave plates of mince pies on low tables or wrapped gifts containing edible treats under the tree.

The Festive Fatal Flaw: Chocolate

From Advent calendars to selection boxes, chocolate is everywhere at Christmas. This makes December the peak season for chocolate poisoning.

Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine. Dogs metabolise this at a much slower than humans. This compound acts as a powerful stimulant and a diuretic. An overdose can be fatal.

• Toxicity Level: The darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine content, making it more toxic. Cooking chocolate and dark chocolate are the biggest risks.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhoea, increased thirst, restlessness, and in severe cases, tremors, seizures, and heart failure.

COYA Safety Tip: Educate your guests and family, especially children, about the danger of sharing chocolate. Never hang edible decorations on the tree where a curious dog can reach them.

The Hidden Danger: The Allium Family

Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, and chives are staples in a traditional Christmas dinner, often featuring heavily in gravy, stuffing, and seasoned meats.

All of these vegetables belong to the Allium family. They contain compounds that damage a dog's red blood cells, leading to haemolytic anaemia. This is a serious condition that can result in weakness, pale gums, and collapse.

Key Sources to Avoid:

• Stuffing (especially sage and onion)
• Gravy
• Roast Potatoes if cooked in the same pan as the meat with seasoning
• Leftovers that have been seasoned with garlic powder or onion

COYA Safety Tip: If you want to give your dog a little piece of turkey, ensure it is plain, white meat only—no skin, no fat, and absolutely no gravy.

The Choking Hazard: Cooked Bones

While not technically a 'toxin,' cooked bones from your Christmas turkey, goose, or chicken pose a severe physical threat.

When cooked, bones become brittle and can easily splinter into sharp shards. If swallowed, these splinters can:

• Cause choking
• Perforate the stomach or intestinal wall, a life-threatening injury requiring emergency surgery
• Cause a dangerous obstruction in the gut

COYA Safety Tip: Dispose of your carcass immediately and securely.

Rich & Rotten: Fatty Foods, Blue Cheese & Alcohol

Christmas is a time of rich indulgence, but that richness is a major risk for your dog's pancreas.

• Fatty Foods: Turkey skin, bacon from pigs in blankets, and excessive fat trimmings can trigger pancreatitis, a painful and potentially fatal inflammation of the pancreas.
• Blue Cheese: Cheeses like Stilton or Roquefort contain a fungus that produces a substance called roquefortine C, which dogs are particularly sensitive to. In high doses, it can cause tremors and seizures.
• Alcohol: Dogs are highly sensitive to ethanol. Even a small amount of an alcoholic drink (like a splash of eggnog or mulled wine) can cause sickness, disorientation, and in severe cases, coma.

Keep Them Safe

The easiest and safest way to involve your dog in the festive fun is to stick to their established, high-quality diet. You don't need to risk a life-threatening vet trip to make them feel special!

Instead of risking the unknown, treat your dog with something you know is naturally healthy and utterly delicious.

• The Festive Feast Upgrade: Top your dog's regular COYA Freeze-Dried Raw Food with a tiny piece of unseasoned, cooked white turkey meat for a safe, natural festive boost.
• The Perfect Present: Stuff a chew toy with their favourite COYA Freeze-Dried Raw Treats. The natural, single-ingredient goodness is a far better gift than any human sweet.

By being vigilant and keeping your human festive foods out of their reach, you can ensure a safe, healthy, and truly happy Christmas for your entire family.

If you suspect your dog has eaten a toxic food, contact your vet immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to appear; early treatment is crucial.