What Can Dogs Eat at Christmas Dinner? A Friendly Guide

The turkey's resting, the roast potatoes are crisping and a pair of hopeful eyes is fixed on your plate. We've all been there! Christmas dinner is a big part of the day, and it's natural to want your dog to join in. The good news is that a few bits from the table are generally fine in small, plain amounts. Others are best kept well out of reach. Here's our friendly guide to sharing the festive feast safely.

Christmas dinner foods that are generally fine (small, plain amounts)

Keep any extras plain, with no butter, oil, salt, gravy or seasoning, and think of them as a little treat rather than a meal.

• Turkey meat: a few pieces of plain, cooked white meat with the skin and all bones removed.
• Carrots: plain boiled or steamed carrots make a crunchy, low-fuss treat.
• Green beans: plain and cooked, chopped into bite-sized pieces.
• Parsnips: a little plain boiled parsnip, without honey glaze or roasting fat.
• Potato: a small amount of plain boiled or mashed potato, with no butter, milk or salt.

If your dog has a sensitive tummy or a special diet, it's best to stick to their usual food and treats.

Christmas foods to keep away from your dog

• Cooked bones: turkey and other cooked bones can splinter, so keep the carcass well out of reach and the bin lid shut.
• Gravy and stuffing: these often contain onion, garlic, leeks or chives, which dogs should not eat.
• Christmas pudding, mince pies and Christmas cake: full of raisins, currants and sultanas, which are harmful to dogs. The same goes for grapes.
• Chocolate: including chocolate tree decorations and selection boxes under the tree.
• Alcohol: keep glasses, boozy desserts and brandy butter out of paw's reach.
• Xylitol: a sweetener found in some sugar-free sweets, gum and baked goods.
• Fatty turkey skin and trimmings: rich, fatty food can upset your dog's stomach.
• Nuts: especially macadamia nuts, which often turn up in festive nibbles bowls.

If you think your dog has eaten something harmful, contact your vet straight away for advice.

For more ways to keep the festive season stress-free, have a read of our 6 Christmas hazards for dogs and how to avoid them.

A safe festive treat they can really get stuck into

Rather than sneaking scraps under the table, why not give your dog their own Christmas chew to enjoy while you tuck in? Our cheese bones and yak chews are long-lasting, high in protein and calcium, low in lactose and made with British milk. They're a lovely way to keep your pooch happily busy during dinner.

Looking for more festive ideas? Browse our Christmas gifts for dogs guide or shop the full Christmas gifts for dogs collection.

Last orders for Christmas delivery: 12pm, Thursday 17 December. Treat your dog in time for the big day. Shop Christmas gifts now.