Which Holiday Dog Treats Are Safe for Dogs?
The short answer: the safest holiday dog treats are single-ingredient chews and simple, dog-friendly whole foods like plain canned pumpkin, cooked turkey (no skin, bones, or seasoning), and dehydrated sweet potato. The foods to keep well away from your dog are chocolate, anything with xylitol, grapes and raisins, onions, and rich table scraps. Get those two lists right and your dog can celebrate the season safely alongside you.
I'm Preston Smith, co-founder of Bully Sticks Central. Every December we get the same question from customers: what can I give my dog during the holidays that's festive but won't send us to the emergency vet? Here's how we think about it.
What Makes a Holiday Treat Safe?
A good holiday treat is festive on the outside and boring on the inside — in the best way. Dogs don't need seasonal flavoring or fancy shapes to feel included; they need something tasty that their stomach can actually handle. That's why we build everything at BSC around simple ingredients: our chews are 100% natural, single-ingredient, made from 100% real meat, fully digestible, and contain no rawhide. The fewer ingredients on the label, the fewer surprises for your dog's digestion during an already busy, food-heavy time of year.
The American Kennel Club notes that sudden diet changes and rich, fatty holiday foods are a leading cause of stomach upset and pancreatitis in dogs this time of year (AKC). Sticking to simple treats is the easiest way to avoid that.
Which Holiday Foods Are Toxic to Dogs?
Before the fun list, the important one. Keep these away from your dog entirely, and let holiday guests know too:
- Chocolate — toxic to dogs; darker chocolate is more dangerous.
- Xylitol — a sweetener in gum, candy, and some baked goods that can cause a life-threatening blood-sugar drop.
- Grapes and raisins — can cause kidney failure, even in small amounts.
- Onions, garlic, leeks, and chives — damage red blood cells.
- Cooked bones and fatty scraps — bones can splinter; fatty trimmings can trigger pancreatitis.
The ASPCA keeps a full, regularly updated list of foods that are dangerous to pets (ASPCA Animal Poison Control). If you think your dog ate something toxic, call your vet or the ASPCA Poison Control line right away.
What Are the Best Festive Treats to Give Instead?
Plenty of holiday flavors are perfectly safe in plain, unsweetened form:
- Plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling) — a little spooned over dinner is gentle on the stomach and full of fiber. Dogs who love it will also love our peanut butter treats for the same reason: one clean flavor, nothing artificial.
- Cooked turkey — skinless, boneless, and unseasoned. A few small pieces make a great holiday reward.
- Dehydrated sweet potato — thin slices dried until chewy. Simple, healthy, and easy to make at home.
- A long-lasting chew — while the family eats, a bully stick keeps your dog happily occupied and out from under the table. Ours are ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms and 100% high-quality guaranteed.
VCA Animal Hospitals recommends that treats — holiday or otherwise — make up no more than about 10% of a dog's daily calories, so keep portions small even when everyone's indulging (VCA Animal Hospitals).
Are Holiday Treats Safe for Puppies?
Puppies have more sensitive stomachs and are still learning to chew, so keep their holiday treats small, soft, and simple. A gentler chew is usually the better choice while they're teething — we cover this in our guide to bully sticks for puppies. As always, supervise any chew and pick a size appropriate for your dog.
The Bottom Line
You don't need snowflake-shaped cookies to make your dog feel part of the celebration. A safe, single-ingredient chew and a few bites of plain pumpkin or turkey do the job — and keep the holidays happy for everyone, including the dog. Stick to simple, skip the toxic list, and enjoy the season.
This post was last updated at August 6, 2026 22:35
