Is Christmas dinner safe for your dog?

When it’s Christmas Day and grub’s up, there’s no doubt your dog will be well aware of a feast – especially with all those amazing smells. So you might want to treat them to a Christmas dinner of their own.

Hold your horses, though! Rather than scraping from your plates into their bowl, you’ll want to check whether their sensitive stomachs can handle all those rich, gravy-soaked treats.

Read on for Pooch & Mutt’s full rundown of what can be in a Christmas dinner for dogs, which festive foods aren’t recommended and what should totally be avoided.

Christmas dinner starters

Here is the dog-based recommendation for each traditional starter:

Can dogs eat a prawn cocktail?

Yes and no! Dogs can eat prawns, so long as they’re de-shelled and deveined, cooked without added seasoning and served in bite-size pieces. Dogs can also eat the plain iceberg lettuce with the prawns if they like it. Avoid the tangy Marie Rose sauce that usually comes with a prawn cocktail, however, as this is high in fat, salt and sugar, so could cause a stomach upset.

Can dogs eat soup?

No – at least, not the soup that humans would eat. Soup is likely to contain ingredients not suitable for a dog, such as cream, extra salt, chilli, onions, garlic and other seasonings and spices.

Can dogs eat bread?

Yes, bread is safe for dogs to eat but don’t be making sandwiches a regular thing!

Bread has little to no nutritional value to dogs, is quite fatty, and can often contain toxic ingredients like raisins and certain seasonings – especially at Christmas time!

Can dogs eat pâté?

No. Pâté is an indulgent treat for humans, especially at Christmas – but it isn’t good for a dog’s health or digestion due to its high-fat content, which could cause pancreatitis – as well as high levels of salt and seasoning.

Christmas dinner main course

Let’s go into detail about whether dogs can eat roast turkey and all the extras of a Christmas main course:

Can dogs eat roast turkey or roast chicken?

Yes! Your dog can eat chicken or turkey – just make sure it’s lean, white meat that doesn’t contain bones or the skin, and there’s no extra seasoning or flavouring.

Avoid the darker pieces of meat, which will be harder for them to digest; cut off the fatty pieces, and avoid the heavily seasoned skin. These parts of the poultry are high in fat which could cause sickness or in some dogs, trigger pancreatitis.

Can dogs eat stuffing?

No. Avoid adding stuffing to your dog’s Christmas bowl. Though delicious, stuffing contains a lot of fats as well as garlic and onions, both of which can wreak havoc with your dog’s stomach and even cause anaemia.

Can dogs eat roast potatoes?

Not really! Dogs can eat potatoes in moderation, but roast potatoes are slightly too fatty and starchy for them to digest.

Can dogs eat mashed potatoes?

In moderation. Feed your dog a small amount of unseasoned, plain mashed potato as a substitute for those rich roasties. Just make sure it’s not the main component of the meal – take up the space with veggies instead.

Can dogs eat pigs in blankets?

No. No matter how much your pooch might love them, pigs in blankets – those dinky sausages wrapped in bacon – are just too high in fat and salt for your pooch’s delicate tum.

Can dogs eat Brussels sprouts?

Yes! Whether you’re a lover or hater, lots of dogs love a brussel sprout or two.

They’re packed full of fibre, vitamins and minerals, are low fat, and are even thought to have cancer-fighting properties. But beware: they do cause smelly doggy toots!

Be sure to steam or boil your dog’s sprouts and chop them up to avoid choking hazards, with no added salt, oil or butter for seasoning.

Can dogs eat parsnips?

Yes. Parsnips are fine for dogs to eat, raw or cooked, and provide B vitamins, vitamins C and K, and potassium. If cooking them for your pooch, make sure they’re boiled and don’t add any flavourings like honey glaze, oil, butter or salt.

Can dogs eat swede?

Yes! Swede is a healthy and tasty food for your pooch’s Christmas lunch. Swede can be served to your dog raw or cooked, so long as you boil and serve chopped or mashed without any glaze, oil, butter or salt.

Can dogs eat broccoli?

Yes! In moderation, broccoli is a fantastic dog food at any time of year – it’s super healthy, with tons of vitamins C, K and some B vitamins, as well as being high in fibre. Serve broccoli steamed or boiled with no extra salt or oil.

Just like with sprouts, broccoli can make your dog gassy! If you find that they’re too gassy after eating, perhaps reduce the portion size next time.

Can dogs eat cauliflower cheese?

Ideally no – creamy cauliflower cheese is too rich and full of toxic seasoning which could cause a stomach upset. Cauliflower on its own is a preferable option, steamed or boiled with no added salt.

Can dogs eat Yorkshire puddings?

No. Though Yorkshire puddings are truly scrumptious for most humans, they are made of flour, eggs and milk and offer no nutritional value to a hungry pooch.

As they’re cooked in oil, they’re also very rich and likely to cause your dog bloatedness, lethargy or a stomach upset.

Can dogs eat red cabbage?

Yes. Red cabbage adds a burst of colour to a Christmas dinner plate, as well as a boost of vitamins and antioxidants. If you feed it to your dog, make sure it’s boiled or steamed until soft; not fried in lots of oil or butter. Don’t add any extra salt or seasoning and chop it into munchable pieces, as it can have some parts that are tough to chew.

Also feed in moderation, as it contains a lot of fibre that can cause digestive problems if overeaten.

Christmas Condiments

We humans love slathering on the sauces come Christmas but what, if any, Christmas dinner condiments are safe for a dog to eat?

Can dogs eat gravy?

Sadly no! Most human gravy is very high in fat and salt. It’s just too rich for your hungry pooch and could cause a stomach upset. It could also contain onions and garlic, which is another no-no for dogs.

Can dogs eat cranberry sauce?

If made with dogs in mind! A small dollop of cranberry sauce is ok for a dog to eat, especially if you’ve made it yourself with cranberries and water.

If you’ve bought it, always check the label. If it contains grapes or raisins it should definitely be avoided – and be wary if it’s sugar-free, as it may contain artificial sweeteners such as Xylitol which is lethal to dogs.

Can dogs eat mustard?

No. It’s too potent in flavour for a dog and offers no nutritional value.

Christmas dinner dessert

Dessert time! By now, you and your dog will be suitably stuffed, but there might be room for more. So what can a dog eat for Christmas dessert?

Can dogs eat Christmas pudding or Christmas cake?

It’s a no for dogs! Christmas pudding and cake are usually packed with raisins, alcohol, chocolate and other strong flavourings that are poisonous to dogs. Grapes, raisins and other fruits found in Christmas puddings are also toxic to a dog’s kidneys and could cause renal failure, so it’s safer to avoid them altogether.

Remember, dogs don’t have a sweet tooth, so they’re not missing out.

Can dogs eat mince pies?

No, dogs can’t eat mince pies. As well as being high in sugar, mince pies traditionally contain raisins and sultanas – two of the most toxic foods for dogs. When consumed by dogs, they can cause severe bouts of sickness, diarrhoea and even kidney failure.

If a Christmas catastrophe occurs and your dog gets their chops around a mince pie or two, be sure to contact a vet immediately.

Can dogs eat gingerbread?

No. Gingerbread is high in sugar and fats, making it one to avoid as a dog treat. Lots of gingerbread also contains nutmeg, which is toxic to pooches and can even cause seizures and hallucinations.

Can dogs eat satsumas?

Yes. Satsumas, oranges and tangerines are juicy Christmas treats that offer a boost of vitamin C for dogs. Just be sure to remove all seeds, skin and tough pieces, and feed in moderation.

If you’ve never fed your dog this fruit before, introduce it slowly – they may have an allergy or respond negatively.

Can dogs eat blue cheese?

Most dogs love cheese – but blue cheese is quite an extreme treat for a dog. It’s not only high in salt, fat and flavour, but it contains various moulds that we humans can handle, but dogs may not. If you want to offer a small piece of cheese to your dog, keep it mild, low fat and low salt.

Can dogs eat whipped cream?

Nope. Don’t feed your pooch cream, or they’ll likely feel uncomfortable come Christmas evening! Though some dogs may have a few licks and have no ill effects, it’s simply too rich for most doggy digestive systems.

Can dogs eat chocolate?

It probably doesn’t need saying, but don’t feed your dog any chocolate at Christmas – so your favourite Chocolate Log is a big no-no! It’s one of the most well-known toxins for dogs due to its theobromine content – and there are much higher cases of chocolate poisoning in dogs over the seasonal period.

Keep all chocolate, including that wrapped as presents, well out of your dog’s reach to keep them safe.

Can dogs eat sweets?

No! Not only are sweets full of sugar that can cause unnecessary weight gain for your dog, but sweets often contain sweeteners like Xylitol which are very toxic. Xylitol is especially common in ‘sugar free’ sweets, and when consumed by a dog can lead to symptoms including vomiting, lethargy, seizures, and even liver disease.

Post-Christmas dinner snacks

With gravy-soaked dinner plates and demolished desserts, you’re probably feeling like you couldn’t possibly eat another thing. That is until you hear the familiar sound of something savoury being poured into a sharing bowl!

And your dog’s ears have probably pricked up too. But is it safe for them to join?

Can dogs eat nuts?

Yes and no! Some nuts when roasted and unsalted, like peanuts and cashews, can be fed to your dog as an occasional treat in moderation. However, they are unsuitable as a regular part of their diet because they’re high in fat.

Salted nuts should also be avoided, as high levels of salt can lead to dehydration. Plus, always look out for any other toxic flavourings, like onion and garlic.

Macadamia nuts on the other hand are poisonous to dogs and should never be given under any circumstances!

Can dogs eat crisps?

No. As much as we love them, crisps are a big no-no for your pooch. Not only are they fatty, but their seasoning commonly contains toxic ingredients and high levels of salt.

To conclude

There’s no need for your dog to miss out on a special dinner this Christmas! Just be sure they eat the clean, nutritious parts of your meal – without all the added salt, oil and butter that human Christmas foods are known for.