A few plain foods are fine. Most of the holiday table isn't
Small portions of plain, skinless turkey, green beans, carrots, peas and plain potato are safe for most Labs. Keep chocolate, sweets and baked goods (xylitol), fruitcake, mince pies and anything with raisins, macadamia nuts, ham and other fatty scraps, bones, onion and garlic, alcohol and raw yeast dough away from your dog.
Small, plain portions of skinless turkey, green beans, carrots, peas and plain potato are safe for most dogs. Keep chocolate, cookies and other baked goods, fruitcake and mince pies (raisins), macadamia nuts, ham and fatty scraps, bones, onion and garlic, eggnog and other alcohol, and raw yeast dough away from your Lab. Answer page →
Christmas brings the same rich food as Thanksgiving plus a few extra hazards: more chocolate, cookies and fruit-filled baking, and decorations at nose height. The AVMA says to keep people food away from pets and to ask guests to do the same. If you want to share, set aside a plain portion or use treats made for dogs.
Safe in small, plain portions
These are on the AKC’s list of holiday foods dogs can have, as long as they’re plain, with no butter, gravy or seasoning:
Keep it to a few bites. Treats should stay under about 10% of daily calories, which for a 70 lb neutered adult Lab is roughly 150 kcal. Check your own dog’s numbers with the calorie calculator.
The ASPCA says alcohol can cause vomiting, incoordination, breathing trouble, coma and even death.
Raw bread or roll dough
Yeast dough can rise in the stomach and cause painful bloating, and the yeast produces alcohol, according to the ASPCA.
Decorations a Lab might eat
Labs explore with their mouths, so the AVMA’s decorating list matters as much as the food list:
Ornaments, tinsel and ribbon can cause choking or intestinal blockage if swallowed. Keep salt-dough and other food-based ornaments out of reach.
Tree water additives can be hazardous if your dog drinks from the tree stand. The AVMA suggests adding nothing to the water if you have pets.
Light cords can burn a dog that chews them. Unplug decorations when you go out.
Holiday plants: the AVMA lists poinsettias, amaryllis, mistletoe, balsam, pine, cedar and holly as potentially dangerous. The ASPCA says poinsettia sap mainly irritates the mouth and stomach.
Wrapped gifts of food. A Lab will happily unwrap a box of chocolates under the tree. Keep edible presents off the floor.
If your Lab eats something it shouldn’t
The AVMA says to watch for sudden behavior changes, pain, loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea. Call your vet or emergency clinic right away, or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (a fee may apply). Look up your nearest 24/7 emergency clinic before the holidays, not during them.
It's not advisable. The AKC says store-bought ham is very salty and fattier than many meats, and too much fat can lead to pancreatitis. A tiny sliver once in a while probably won't hurt, but plain turkey is a better choice.
Can dogs eat fruitcake or mince pies?
No. Both usually contain raisins or currants, which VCA lists as toxic to dogs and capable of causing kidney damage. Many recipes also contain alcohol.
Can dogs eat Christmas cookies?
No. The AVMA says sweets and baked goods are often too rich for pets and may contain xylitol, which has been linked to liver failure and death in dogs. Chocolate chips and macadamia nuts add more risk.
Can dogs drink eggnog?
No. Eggnog is often spiked, and the ASPCA says alcohol can cause vomiting, incoordination, breathing trouble, coma and even death. Even plain eggnog is rich dairy, which can upset a dog's stomach.
Are poinsettias poisonous to dogs?
Mildly. The ASPCA lists poinsettia as toxic to dogs: the sap irritates the mouth and stomach and sometimes causes vomiting, but it calls the plant generally over-rated in toxicity. Mistletoe, holly, amaryllis and pine are on the AVMA's list of holiday plants to keep away from pets.
Can Labs Eat Chocolate? No. Chocolate's theobromine and caffeine can poison dogs. See how much is dangerous for a Lab by chocolate type, symptoms, and what to do right now.
Can Labs Eat Grapes or Raisins? No. Grapes, raisins and currants can cause kidney failure in dogs, with no known safe amount. Symptoms, what to do and who to call if your Lab ate one.
Can Labs Eat Strawberries? Yes, in moderation. Strawberries are a low-calorie treat for Labs. How many to give, how to prepare them, and the few things to avoid.
Can Labs Eat Bananas? Yes, in moderation. Bananas are safe for dogs but sugary: a whole one is about 105 calories. How much to give a Lab, banana peels, and treat ideas.
Can Labs Eat Apples? Yes. Apple slices are a crunchy, low-calorie treat for Labs. Remove the core, seeds and stem first. How much to give and why the seeds matter.
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Can Labs Eat It? Food Safety
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