THE ULTIMATE HOLIDAY PET SAFETY 

By: Door Buddy Editors      |     Published: 1 December 2025

Your Complete Pet Safety Christmas Handbook for a Safe, Joyful, and “Pawsome” Season.

The holidays sparkle with magic, twinkly lights, delicious food, cozy décor, and the excitement of having your dogs and cats at Christmas, enjoying the fun with you. But beneath the beauty lies a long list of hazards that can put pet safety at risk. Holiday emergencies surge each December, and many of them involve preventable dangers: tinsel, pine needles, toxic treats, electrical fires, and even unsafe mulch around indoor plants.

This guide covers everything you need to know about pet safety at Christmas, from understanding what tinsel is to knowing what to do if your dog eats Christmas ornaments, plus tips on tree anchoring, fire prevention, training, safe decorations, and emergency care.

Let’s make sure your fur family has the safest, happiest ‘howliday’ season ever!

TREE WATER: NOT SAFE TO DRINK

Holiday tree-stand water is not just water, PetMD notes it may contain:

• Mold

• Bacteria

• Fertilizers

• Preservatives

• Sap

Dogs especially love sneaking sips.

Cover the base with a tree skirt, foil, or a secure lid to prevent accidental drinking.

CHOOSE A SAFE TREE LOCATION

Place your tree:

• In a corner

• Away from high-traffic areas

• Against a stable wall

• This reduces the chance of it being knocked over during zoomies.

ADD PHYSICAL BARRIERS

Great for both aesthetics and function:

• Door Buddy

• Decorative wooden fencing

• Transparent acrylic pet barriers

• Dog x-pens

• Playpens

And remember: no unsupervised access to the tree room! Use your Door Buddy to block off certain rooms and keep pets safely out.

DÉCOR SAFETY: WHAT IS TINSEL & WHY IS IT DANGEROUS?

Tinsel Explained

People often ask: What is tinsel? Tinsel is a thin, shiny decorative material often hung on trees. The problem?

Christmas decoration tinsel is:

• Lightweight and irresistible to pets

• Sharp-edged

• A major choking hazard

• Likely to cause intestinal blockages if swallowed

This stuff is extremely dangerous and not worth the risk.

ORNAMENTS: BREAKABLE = DANGEROUS

If “My Dog Ate Christmas Ornaments”, Act Fast!

Glass or plastic shards can cause:

• Oral injuries

• Throat lacerations

• Stomach or intestinal perforation

• Obstructions

Contact your vet immediately if ingestion is suspected.

CHOOSE PET-SAFE ORNAMENT MATERIALS

Use:

• Felt

• Fabric

• Wood

• Soft plastic

Avoid:

• Glass

• Thin plastic

• Metal hooks

Always attach ornaments with twine, ribbon, or yarn, not metal hooks.

FIRE SAFETY TIPS

Real trees dry out quickly, and dry trees ignite fast.

To reduce fire risk:

• Water your tree daily

• Keep trees away from fireplaces & heaters

• Turn off lights before bed or when leaving home

• Use flameless candles

• Check smoke detectors

TOXIC HOLIDAY PLANTS

Keep these out of reach to maintain pet safety at Christmas:

• Poinsettia

• Holly

• Mistletoe

• Ivy

• Amaryllis

• Yew

• Christmas roses (Hellebore)

• Peace lilies

• Gardenia

Even small amounts can cause vomiting, drooling, cardiac issues, and more.

HOLIDAY FOOD SAFETY FOR PETS

Here’s why these foods are dangerous:

• Chocolate → heart arrhythmias

• Xylitol → deadly hypoglycemia

• Grapes/Raisins → kidney failure

• Garlic/Onions → anemia

• Turkey skin & fat → pancreatitis

• Bones → perforation

• Alcohol → seizures

Keep trash sealed; pets LOVE digging for discarded turkey bones.

BEHAVIORAL TRAINING FOR A SAFER HOLIDAY

Teach Key Commands

• “Leave it”

• “Stay”

• “Go to bed"

PROVIDE BETTER ALTERNATIVES

Keep your dog or cat focused elsewhere by offering:

• Long-lasting chews

• Puzzle feeders

• Snuffle mats

• Holiday-themed chew toys

• A dog advent calendar

GRADUAL TREE INTRO

Show pets the tree in phases:

1. Bare tree

2. Lights

3. Ornaments

4. Presents

5. This reduces sensory overload.

GUESTS, NOISE, & PET COMFORT

Create a quiet retreat room:

• Bed

• Water

• Calming music

• Toys

• Door Buddy to reduce foot traffic

Inform guests:

• Not to feed pets

• To store bags & medication safely

• To close doors behind them

Stick to normal routines to lower stress.

TRAVELING WITH PETS

Before holiday trips:

• Acclimate pets to crates

• Pack snacks, water, meds

• Stick to potty stops

• Keep music low and temps comfortable

Know where the nearest vet is at your destination.

REAL-LIFE PET HOLIDAY STORIES

“My dog ate Christmas ornaments, glass ones. We spent all Christmas morning at the emergency vet.”

-Reddit user, r/dogs

“We solved everything by anchoring the tree with fishing line and putting a playpen around it.”

-r/pets community member

The struggle is real, and you’re definitely not alone!

FUN & SAFE HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES FOR PETS

• DIY dog-safe holiday treats

• Photo booths with LED candles and soft ornaments

• Scavenger hunts using pet-safe treats

• Holiday-themed enrichment toys

• Let your dog “unwrap” safe presents

CONCLUSION: MAKE PET SAFETY PART OF YOUR TRADITION

Holiday magic is best enjoyed when everyone, humans and pets, is safe.

By understanding hazards like tinsel, electrical cords, toxic plants, unsafe mulch, and tree dangers, you’ll protect your fur family from the season’s most common emergencies.

With preparation, awareness, and a few clever tricks, you can have the safest, happiest, most "pawsome" Christmas yet.