Christmas and pets: foods and hazards to keep away (UK)

Call your vet straight away, even if your pet seems fine. Some poisons, like grapes and raisins, take hours to show, and treatment works best early. Tell the vet what your pet ate, roughly how much and when, and keep the packaging. Out of hours, call your vet's emergency number.

Don't try to make your pet sick unless a vet tells you to.

• Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, and dark chocolate is the most dangerous. Watch out for chocolate tree decorations and selection boxes under the tree.
• Grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas can cause kidney failure in dogs, even in small amounts. That includes mince pies, Christmas pudding and Christmas cake.
• Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives damage the red blood cells of dogs and cats, even when cooked, so keep stuffing and gravy away from them.
• Xylitol, a sweetener in some sugar-free sweets, gum and bakes, can be life-threatening for dogs.
• Cooked bones, including turkey bones, can splinter and cause choking or internal injuries.
• Alcohol is dangerous for pets, even in small amounts.
• Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs.

• Lilies are highly toxic to cats: every part of the plant, including the pollen and the water in the vase. Keep them out of any home with a cat.
• Holly, mistletoe and poinsettia can make pets unwell if they chew them.
• Tinsel, ribbon and string can cause dangerous blockages if swallowed. Cats love to play with them, so keep an eye out.
• Batteries from new toys and gadgets, and glass baubles, are dangerous if chewed.
• Salt dough decorations are toxic to pets if eaten.

With guests coming and going, it's easy for a dog or cat to slip out unnoticed. Give your pet a quiet room to retreat to, keep the front door closed, and check their collar, ID tag and microchip details are up to date before the holidays start.

New Year's Eve fireworks are a risk too. Our fireworks guide covers how to keep pets calm and safe.

A PetTag makes a useful stocking filler for anyone with a dog or cat. It's from £10 with free UK delivery, and they set up the pet's profile themselves in about a minute.