The Edit — Pets
Christmas Decorations That Are Not Safe Around a Dog
Tinsel can mean surgery, a chewed light cord can deliver a lethal shock, and a broken snow globe leaks the same chemical as antifreeze. What the ASPCA warns about, and the 4 fixes that cost least.
This guide is research-led: we have not handled these units ourselves. If you buy through our links we may earn a commission — it never changes a pick. How we choose
No product here was used with a dog or tested. The page sets out what the ASPCA publishes about holiday hazards, and the 4 products answer the 2 that are hardest to remove: cords and the tree itself. Method: How we choose.
Krinner Tree Genie Large Christmas Tree Stand, up to 8 ft
Good fit A real tree in a house with a big or bouncy dog
Not for An artificial tree on its own base
Alex Tech 10 ft Split Wire Loom Cord Protector, 1/4 in
Good fit Thin light and extension cords a curious dog noses at
Not for A determined chewer, which needs the cord out of reach
Secbolt Cord Protectors from Pets, 10 ft, 1/2 in
Good fit A cat, or a dog that tests rather than chews
Not for A dog that chews for minutes at a time
FXW Rollick Dog Playpen, 24 in, 8 Panels
Good fit A puppy or small dog and a tree on the floor
Not for A large dog that can step or jump over 24 in
The 8 decorations the ASPCA warns about
ASPCA Poison Control publishes 11 holiday safety tips, and the 8 hazards below come from the tips on décor, plants and the tree. Each harms a dog in a specific way.
| Decoration | What it does | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Tinsel | Blocks the gut; can mean surgery | Do not use it |
| Light cords | Electrical shock, potentially lethal | Sleeve, lift or fence them |
| Batteries | Burns to mouth and throat if punctured | Keep spares shut away |
| Glass or plastic ornaments | Shards cut mouth and gut | Hang high, out of reach |
| Snow globes | Ethylene glycol, the antifreeze chemical | Keep high; clean any break fully |
| Salt-dough ornaments | Dangerous electrolyte imbalance | Hang out of reach or skip |
| Mistletoe and holly | Stomach upset, heart problems | Use faux plants |
| Tree water | Bacteria cause vomiting and diarrhoea | Cover it or fence the tree |
Tinsel is the one to leave in the box
The ASPCA advises against tinsel outright, and names it in 2 of its 11 holiday tips. Swallowed, it can obstruct the digestive tract and cause severe vomiting and dehydration, and it can require surgery. Cats are drawn to it most, but a dog that eats it faces the same blockage.
Lights and ornaments are the ASPCA’s suggested replacement, as long as both stay out of reach.
A chewed light cord can kill
The ASPCA warns that a wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock. A punctured battery burns the mouth and oesophagus.
The cheapest fix is to route cords up and behind furniture. Where a cord has to cross the floor, a sleeve makes it harder to bite into. Both sleeves below come as a 10 ft run, cut to length.
Alex Tech 10 ft Split Wire Loom Cord Protector, 1/4 in
4.7 across 85,097 ratings for split tubing that owners say slips on easily and cuts to length.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Length | 10 ft, cut to fit |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 1/4 in |
| Type | Split loom tubing |
4.7 across 85,097 ratings. Owners find it easy to slip on, easy to cut to length and neat enough to leave in view, and many buy it to protect cords from pets. It is general cable tubing, not a chew-proof product, so it deters a curious dog rather than stopping a determined one.
Buy it if
- Thin light and extension cords a curious dog noses at
Don't buy it if
- A determined chewer, which needs the cord out of reach
Secbolt Cord Protectors from Pets, 10 ft, 1/2 in
4.6 across 825 ratings for a no-chew sleeve that works for cats, with mixed reports from dog owners.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Length | 10 ft |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 1/2 in |
| Watch | Some dogs chewed through |
4.6 across 825 ratings. Owners report it working well against cats and going on without trouble. Reports from dog owners split: some say their dog could not get through it, and others say their dog chewed through in a day.
Buy it if
- A cat, or a dog that tests rather than chews
Don't buy it if
- A dog that chews for minutes at a time
Lilies, mistletoe and holly belong out of reach
Mistletoe and holly can cause stomach upset and cardiovascular problems if eaten, according to the ASPCA. Many lilies in holiday bouquets are toxic enough to cause kidney failure in cats. Poinsettias are milder than their reputation, causing mild to moderate stomach irritation.
A household with both a dog and a cat should keep lilies out entirely. The ASPCA’s simplest suggestion is faux versions of all 4 plants, and its Poison Control line is (888) 426-4435 if a leaf or berry goes missing.
A tree that tips, and the water under it, are 2 hazards
The ASPCA asks for a tree secured so it cannot tip onto a pet, and for the tree water to be covered or out of reach, since it breeds bacteria that cause nausea and diarrhoea. A wrapped gift of food under the tree is a third risk: a dog smells what a person cannot see. A Krinner stand, 4.7 across 10,943 ratings, answers the first; a 24 in FXW pen answers the other 2.
Krinner Tree Genie Large Christmas Tree Stand, up to 8 ft
4.7 across 10,943 ratings, with a clamping grip owners trust not to topple and a 1-gallon reservoir.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Holds | Trees to 8 ft, trunks to 7 in |
|---|---|
| Reservoir | 1 gallon, level indicator |
| Setup | Foot pedal, single cable |
4.7 across 10,943 ratings. Owners describe a stand they trust not to topple and a trunk clamp that grips securely, and they single out the pop-up water level indicator. A stable stand stops the tipping. It does not keep a dog out of the water, which is what the pen below does.
Buy it if
- A real tree in a house with a big or bouncy dog
Don't buy it if
- An artificial tree on its own base
FXW Rollick Dog Playpen, 24 in, 8 Panels
4.6 across 6,324 ratings for 8 panels, 24 in high, that owners say set up and fold away easily.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Height | 24 in |
|---|---|
| Panels | 8 |
| Watch | Some dogs climb out |
4.6 across 6,324 ratings. Owners call it easy to set up and fold away, and one reports it holding up to a 25 lb dog jumping at it. Stability reports are mixed: it holds most puppies, but some dogs climb out. At 24 in, it suits a small dog or puppy, not a large one.
Buy it if
- A puppy or small dog and a tree on the floor
Don't buy it if
- A large dog that can step or jump over 24 in
Snow globes and salt-dough ornaments are poisons, not breakables
Snow globes contain ethylene glycol, the chemical in antifreeze, and the ASPCA warns its sweet smell draws pets to lick a broken one, with potentially fatal results. Salt-dough ornaments, even fully dried, can cause life-threatening electrolyte imbalances.
Neither is safe on a low branch. If a globe breaks, clean every drop before the dog reaches it, and call a vet or ASPCA Poison Control on (888) 426-4435 if any was licked.
Candles and guests are December’s other risks
A wagging tail knocks over a lit candle, so the ASPCA says never leave one burning unattended. House guests are the other blind spot: the ASPCA asks them to keep medication in a closed cabinet, not in a bag on the floor.
For the gifts themselves, Christmas gifts for dogs and cats compares 7 that owners rate well, and why dogs fear fireworks covers New Year’s Eve. Christmas light fire safety covers the same strings from the fire side.