The holidays are a festive time to enjoy with your loved ones, including your dog.  

But while the kitchen is filled with festive smells, it’s important to keep food far away from your dog’s reach (no matter how much they beg). From savory side dishes to rich desserts, many holiday staples are dangerous for dogs. 

To keep your pup safe this holiday season, here’s the most common holiday food to avoid, how to spot trouble, and alternatives to share with your four-legged best friend. 

1. Chocolate Desserts

From rich fudge to brownies and cookies, these delicious desserts are regulars during the holidays. But just because we can’t get enough of these yummy treats, doesn’t mean your dog should get any crumbs. 

Chocolate is highly toxic to dogs, as it contains theobromine and caffeine, two substances our dogs can’t metabolize. Rather, they are stimulants and can impact our pup’s central nervous system and heart. Chocolate can also dehydrate our besties, and because of its high fat content, can cause gastrointestinal issues. 

Dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and baking chocolate are particularly dangerous, as the darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine level tends to be.  Merck Manual has a chocolate toxicity calculator to help determine toxicity based on your dog’s weight, the type of chocolate, and the amount. It shows that even ingesting a tiny amount of chocolate can be deadly, and should be treated seriously.

• What they do:
• Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, elevated heart rate, muscle tremors, or seizures.
• Severe cases may lead to death, depending on the amount and type of chocolate ingested.
• Signs of toxicity:
• Restlessness or hyperactivity
• Rapid breathing or increased heart rate
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Safe alternatives:
• If you are worried about your dog getting into chocolate desserts, consider substituting in carob. It is a close relative to cocoa (where chocolate comes from), but without theobromine or caffeine. You can also give your pup one of our grass-red beef Trail Treats. Made with just nine ingredients, our treat stick can easily be broken into 10-12 bite-sized pieces.

2. Fatty Holiday Foods

Rich dishes like gravy, buttery mashed potatoes, bacon-wrapped dates, and creamy casseroles are indulgences we love to enjoy. But they’re way too high in fat for dogs. Even a small amount can upset their digestive system and lead to more serious conditions like pancreatitis.

• Can cause vomiting, fever, tiredness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or loss of appetite. 
• May lead to pancreatitis, a painful and potentially life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas.

• Signs of pancreatitis:
• “Prayer pose” or a hunched posture 
• Reluctance to move
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Lack of appetite or lethargy

• Safe alternatives:
• Your dog may want to dig into these rich dishes, but it’s a big no. Consider cooking up plain sweet potatoes and adding a little bit to their food. Another option is Elevate’s Dog Food Topper for Sensitive Stomach that has sweet potatoes in it along with grass-fed beef, pumpkin, and other natural ingredients. 

3. Fruitcakes

While fruitcake and the traditional figgy pudding may make their way on the holiday spread, the grape and raisin-filled treats are extremely dangerous for dogs. It is believed that tartaric acid is what makes these fruits toxic to dogs – and even small amounts can cause major health issues.

• What they do:
• Can lead to acute kidney damage or failure.
• May cause dehydration or urinary problems.
• Signs of toxicity:
• Vomiting within a few hours of ingestion
• Loss of appetite 
• Tiredness
• Increased thirst 
• Decreased urination
• Safe alternative:
• Apples are great treats for dogs when given in moderation, which you can cut up in small bite-size pieces for your pup, or sprinkle our Human Grade Air Dried Beef Topper on their food, which has apples already in it. 

4. Sugar-Free Baked Goods

As some people look to cut back on sugar (or are diabetic and must do so), they may swap out sugar for artificial sweeteners to put in cookies, cakes, pies, and candies. These sugar substitutes can contain xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol found in plants, and is extremely dangerous for dogs. (Here is a list of over 700 products with xylitol.) When dogs eat food with xylitol, the compound is quickly absorbed in the bloodstream, causing a rapid release of insulin from the pancreas and leading to dangerously low blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia. The reaction can occur within 10 to 60 minutes after consuming the food, according to the FDA, and can be deadly. 

• What they do:
• Can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, and liver failure.
• May lead to death if untreated.
• Signs of toxicity:
• Weakness, stumbling, or collapsing
• Vomiting
• Yellowing of the gums or eyes (called jaundice) 
• Safe alternative:
• Avoid giving your dog anything sugary. Instead, look for naturally sweet products that are dog approved, like apples and sweet potatoes, but make sure to give your dog only a little. Again, our topper is perfect, as it has apples and sweet potatoes, along with other beneficial ingredients.  

5. Cooked Bones and Fat Trimmings

Holiday roasts often leave behind tempting leftovers for our pup, but cooked bones and fatty scraps are big no-nos. Cooked bones are a major choking hazard. They can also splinter, causing internal injuries; chip teeth, and lead to constipation.

Fat trimmings from foods like bacon, sausage, and ham can cause digestive issues, such as diarrhea and an upset stomach. Consuming high-fat food can also lead to pancreatitis, and if eaten regularly, lead to obesity. 

• What they do:
• Can cause choking or blockages in the digestive tract.
• Chip teeth or cut the inside of the mouth
• Lead to constipation
• Fatty scraps may lead to vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis, or obesity.
• Signs of issues:
• Choking, gagging, or pawing at the mouth
• Vomiting or abdominal pain
• Lethargy 
• Refusal to eat
• Extra pounds and loss of waistline. 
• Safe alternative:
• You can give your dog unseasoned chicken, turkey, beef, or other dog-approved meat. For a more comprehensive option, consider Elevate’s 100% Grass-Fed Beef Dog Food, which features a nutrient-dense diet of grass-fed human-grade beef, vegetables, and fruit.