The festive season can bring unfamiliar food, bright decorations, visitors and travel plans into your pet’s usual routine. A little preparation can reduce the chance of a curious pet eating, chewing or becoming overwhelmed by something they should not.
Keep festive food for people
Serve your pet their usual food and keep party food where pets cannot reach it. Chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, mince pies and other fruit-based desserts, cooked bones, and fatty leftovers should all stay out of reach. Some of these foods can be toxic, while rich foods, bones and food packaging can also make pets unwell.
Ask guests not to share food, however persuasive the begging may be. Clear plates, foil, skewers and scraps promptly, store leftovers securely and use a lidded bin. Rather than mixing table food into your pet’s regular meal, offer a familiar pet-appropriate treat in a quiet area if you would like them to join the celebration.
Make decorations less tempting
Use a sturdy base for the Christmas tree and secure it so an inquisitive pet cannot easily knock it over. Cover or block access to the tree-water dish, and keep breakable ornaments, tinsel, ribbon, wrapping paper, light cords and batteries beyond reach. Clean up as presents are opened instead of leaving string and packaging on the floor. Keep lit candles out of reach and never leave a pet alone with one; flameless alternatives are another option.
Keep festive plants out of reach too. Mistletoe, holly, poinsettia and amaryllis should not be accessible to pets. Lilies require particular caution around cats. If you are unsure about a plant, choose a pet-safe alternative or ask your veterinary team before bringing it indoors.
Give pets a calm retreat
A busy home can be exciting for some pets and stressful for others. Before visitors arrive, set up a quiet room or familiar area with water, bedding and a favourite activity. Let your pet choose whether to join the celebration, and ask visitors to take care around open doors and gates.
If your plans include travel or a pet-sitter, check that your pet’s collar identification and microchip contact details are current. Accurate details make it easier to reunite a pet with their family if they become separated from you. Our guide to updating your pet’s microchip details explains why accurate registration information matters.
What if my pet eats or swallows something?
If you think your pet has eaten a risky food, plant, medication or decoration, contact a veterinarian promptly for advice. Seek urgent veterinary attention if your pet has collapsed, is having a seizure or is struggling to breathe. Do not use home remedies or try to make your pet vomit unless a veterinarian has specifically instructed you to do so.
Keep the packaging, or take a photo, and note what was involved, roughly how much may have been eaten, when it happened and any signs you have noticed. This information can help the veterinary team assess the situation.
For individual, non-urgent holiday planning advice, contact the Vets of Geelong team before the celebration or trip. Vets of Geelong is a family-owned veterinary group serving the Geelong community across four clinics.
Can my pet join the celebrations?
Yes, if they are comfortable, supervised and able to step away when they need to. A calm retreat, familiar routine and careful food and decoration management are often the kindest way to include them.