Pet Holiday Safety Tips: Keeping Your Furry Friends Safe During Festive Seasons

By Sophie Kininmonth · 3 Nov 2025 (updated 21 Jul 2026) ·6 min read

Pet Holiday Safety Tips: Keeping Your Furry Friends Safe During Festive Seasons

Holidays reshape a house in small ways that matter to animals: new foods on low tables, a tree that smells like the outdoors, doors opening and closing all night, and sudden noise from nowhere. Most festive pet emergencies are ordinary accidents (a swallowed decoration, a toxic leftover, a frightened dash through an open gate) made urgent by the pace of the season.^{1, 2} The good news is that nearly all of it is preventable with a few minutes of setup. The aim is simple: keep risks out of reach, keep routines steady, and give your pet a quiet place to retreat. The sections below move through the most common hazards, from decorations and food through to fireworks and cold weather, with practical checks you can do quickly.

Common holiday hazards for pets

Most festive hazards fall into two groups. There are things that tempt a pet to chew (string, wrapping, bones, food scraps), and there are situations that raise stress (crowds, noise, travel). Prevention is usually about physical barriers rather than trying to teach an animal not to investigate. Closed doors, bins with lids, and higher shelves do more than good intentions.^{1, 2}

Decorations and ornaments

Tinsel, ribbon, string lights, small hooks, baubles, and button batteries can all injure a pet. String-like items are a particular risk because they can lodge or tangle in the gut. Breakable ornaments add sharp edges underfoot, and chewed electrical cords can cause serious burns and shock.¹

Quick ways to pet-proof holiday decor

Skip tinsel and long ribbons, especially if you have a cat or young dog.¹
Keep fragile ornaments and small parts high, and use shatter-resistant decorations lower down.¹
Anchor the tree so it cannot tip if bumped or climbed.¹
Cover or reroute cords so they cannot be chewed, and unplug lights when you are out or asleep.¹
Store spare hooks, batteries, and craft items in closed containers, not in open gift bowls or on side tables.¹

Holiday foods and treats

A surprising amount of normal festive food is unsafe for pets. Chocolate, grapes, raisins and sultanas, macadamias, alcohol, onions, garlic and chives, coffee, and sugar-free gum (xylitol) are all well-known problems. Cooked bones can splinter, and rich leftovers such as fat, skin, and gravy can trigger stomach upsets and, in some cases, pancreatitis.^{1, 2}

Safer ways to include pets in the meal

Offer a small portion of plain cooked meat, with no stuffing, onion, garlic, or rich sauces.²
Use a puzzle feeder or scatter a measured amount of their normal kibble to keep them occupied while people eat.
Keep rubbish secured. Many holiday poisonings and gut blockages start in the bin after the meal.²

If you think your pet has eaten something dangerous

Call your vet straight away. In Australia, you can also contact the Animal Poisons Helpline (24/7) for triage advice on 1300 869 738.⁸

Seasonal plants and flowers

Some popular holiday plants can cause illness if chewed. RSPCA guidance commonly lists lilies, mistletoe, holly, amaryllis, azaleas, and poinsettias as plants to keep away from pets, and lilies are especially dangerous for cats.¹ Treat the Christmas tree base as a hazard too. Tree water can collect bacteria, fertiliser residue, or dropped needles, none of which belongs in a pet's mouth.¹

Lower-risk options

Use artificial plants where possible, placed securely so they cannot be dragged down.
Choose sturdy, non-toxic greenery and keep all plants out of reach if your pet is a committed chewer.

Visitors and gatherings

A busy house can be stressful for animals that rely on predictability. Even confident pets can become unsettled when there is constant noise, unfamiliar hands reaching in, and doors left ajar. Stress often shows up as hiding, pacing, barking, toileting accidents, or refusing food.²

Keeping pets calm while the house is full

Exercise pets before guests arrive, then feed them earlier, so they are more likely to rest.^{2, 3}
Set up a quiet no-visitors room with bedding, water, and a chew or puzzle toy, and let your pet choose it.²
Keep entry points controlled with baby gates, a closed door, or a lead when people are coming and going.
Ask guests not to feed your pet and not to offer cooked bones or leftovers.²

Travel and boarding considerations

Holiday travel increases the chance of escapes, car injuries, and stress-related illness. A good plan is calm, repetitive, and physical: the right restraint, the right breaks, familiar bedding, and water on hand.^{4, 5}

Travelling by car

Restrain dogs with a crash-tested harness or seatbelt system, or transport them in a secured crate. Keep cats in a secure carrier that is belted in place.^{4, 5}
Pack the basics: food, water, bowls, lead and harness, waste bags, towels, and any medications.⁵
Plan regular toilet and movement breaks, especially on hot days or long drives.⁵

Travelling in open vehicles (ute trays, trailers)

Rules vary by state and territory, but Australian legislation generally requires dogs on open vehicles to be restrained or enclosed, with specific requirements and exemptions differing between jurisdictions. From a safety point of view, an enclosed, well-secured crate or a spot inside the cabin is usually safer than riding exposed to wind, debris, and sudden stops.⁶

Choosing a boarding facility

Ask how they manage emergencies and whether they can administer your pet's medication.
Check hygiene, ventilation, and how animals are supervised during feeding and play.
Confirm that vaccination and parasite-control requirements match your vet's advice.

Fireworks and loud noises

Fireworks can trigger panic behaviours: trembling, hiding, barking, destructive scratching at doors, or attempts to escape. Some dogs injure themselves trying to get away, especially if tethered outside.⁷

Practical steps for firework nights

Bring pets indoors, close curtains and blinds, and create a small hiding space such as a covered crate or a cardboard box with bedding.⁷
Play steady background sound (TV or music) to mask sudden bangs.⁷
Do not tether dogs outside during fireworks, and avoid choke chains.⁷
If your pet regularly panics, talk with your vet ahead of time about behaviour support and, where appropriate, medication.⁷

Cold weather precautions

In winter, smaller pets, short-coated breeds, very young animals, seniors, and pets with illness can lose body heat quickly. Cold, wet conditions increase the risk of hypothermia and frostbite, especially on ears, tails, and paws. Road salt and de-icing chemicals can also irritate paws and be swallowed during grooming.⁹

Keeping pets comfortable in the cold

Keep outdoor time shorter in cold, windy, or wet conditions, and dry your pet after rain.
Use a coat for dogs that need it, and wipe paws after walks to remove grit and chemicals.⁹
Make sure outdoor pets always have dry bedding and shelter from wind and rain.

Fun and safe holiday activities

The simplest holiday enrichment is quiet and familiar. A dog that gets a good walk before guests arrive often settles more easily. Cats do well with short bursts of play, then somewhere high and undisturbed to watch from.^{2, 3}

Rotate a couple of toys rather than flooding the floor with new things at once.
Use food puzzles or treat scatters to occupy pets while cooking and eating.
Take family photos without forcing costumes, and avoid anything that restricts breathing, vision, movement, or hearing.

Final thoughts

Holiday safety is mostly quiet housekeeping: remove the tempting hazards, keep doors controlled, and give your pet somewhere calm to land when the house gets noisy. If something does go wrong, act early. Ring your vet, and keep the Animal Poisons Helpline number where you can reach it quickly.^{2, 8}

References

Sophie Kininmonth

Dog lover and writer at My Pets Australia, sharing practical breed guides and care advice for Australian pet owners.