Are Real Christmas Trees Safe for Dogs?

Yes. A real Christmas tree is safe to have around dogs and cats, as long as you handle four things:

• Keep them out of the stand water.
• Skip the tinsel, especially with a cat in the house.
• Make sure the tree cannot come down.
• Sweep up fallen needles.

Pine needles are not deadly, but they are sharp and they irritate a stomach, and the water a tree has been standing in is not something you want a dog drinking. None of it is difficult, and most of it takes five minutes on the day the tree goes up.

Where to put the tree

Put it somewhere quieter than the middle of the action. A tree in a busy walkway gets bumped, and a dog that walks past it forty times a day will eventually take an interest in it.

Keep it clear of the furniture a cat can launch from. A bookcase or a side table beside the tree is an invitation, and a cat that lands halfway up a real pine will bring the whole thing over. Away from heaters and direct sun is better for the tree anyway.

Stop the tree coming down

A good stand with a wide base does most of the work. For a determined dog, or any cat at all, anchor the top of the tree to the wall or a curtain rail with clear fishing line. It is invisible from a metre away, and it is the difference between a knock and a catastrophe.

Check it through the season. Trees settle, branches drop, and a stand that was tight on day one can work loose by week three.

Needles, sap and stand water

Are pine needles toxic to dogs? Not toxic in the poisonous sense, but they are sharp and mildly irritant. Swallowed, they can scratch a mouth or upset a stomach, and in quantity they can cause a blockage. Sweep them up, especially in the first few days, when the tree sheds whatever it loosened on the way in.

Stand water is the bigger risk. It picks up sap and bacteria, and after a few days it is genuinely unpleasant. Cover it with a tree skirt, a purpose-made stand cover, or foil tucked around the base. And do not put additives in the water. Not because they fail to help the tree, though they do, but because a dog drinking from the stand should find nothing worse than water in there.

The tinsel problem, especially for cats

This is the one worth taking seriously. Tinsel and ribbon are irresistible to cats and dangerous in a specific way. Vets call it a linear foreign body: one end lodges while the rest travels on, the intestine gathers along it, and it can saw through the gut wall. That is surgery, not a wait-and-see.

RSPCA South Australia's festive advice is blunt about keeping tinsel, ribbon and wrapping paper away from pets, and it adds a point worth repeating: if you ever see tinsel emerging from the other end, do not pull it. That can do serious damage. Call your vet.

The easy version: no tinsel in a house with a cat. Fabric ribbon, tied on tight, is fine.

Decorations that survive a tail

Shatter-proof at the bottom, precious at the top.

• Lower third: wooden, felt and plastic baubles that bounce rather than break.
• Above tail height: glass, heirlooms and anything sentimental.
• Leave off entirely: tinsel, anything small enough to swallow, and anything dangling on a long string. To a cat, a bauble on a 20cm loop is a toy that was hung there on purpose.

Our guide to decorating a real Christmas tree covers the rest of the styling.

Keeping them interested in something else

Most tree trouble is boredom. A new chew toy or a puzzle feeder that appears on the same day as the tree does more than any amount of telling off.

Citrus is a fair deterrent for dogs, who generally dislike the smell, but be careful with sprays around cats: several essential oils are toxic to them, so use a product made for the purpose rather than mixing something yourself. And if your dog is a repeat offender, a baby gate for the first week is not defeat. It just gives the novelty time to wear off.

FAQs

Are real Christmas trees safe for dogs?

Yes, with sensible precautions: cover the stand water, secure the tree, keep tinsel off it, and sweep up needles. The tree itself is not poisonous to dogs.

Are real Christmas trees safe for cats?

Yes, and the main risks are different. Cats climb, so anchoring the tree matters more, and tinsel is the serious hazard because of the damage it does if swallowed.

Are pine needles toxic to dogs?

They are not poisonous, but they are sharp and can irritate the mouth and stomach, and a lot of them can cause a blockage. Sweep regularly rather than worrying about the odd needle.

Can my dog drink the Christmas tree water?

Better not. Stand water collects sap and bacteria and can upset a stomach. Cover the base, and never add preservatives, sugar or aspirin to the water.

Why is tinsel dangerous for cats?

Swallowed tinsel can become a linear foreign body, where the intestine bunches along it and can be cut through. It is a surgical emergency. If you see any emerging, do not pull it, call your vet.

How do I stop my dog knocking the tree over?

Use a heavy stand with a wide base, anchor the top to the wall with fishing line, and keep the tree out of walkways and away from furniture they can jump from.

What is a flocked Christmas tree, and is it safe for pets?

Flocking is the artificial snow sprayed onto branches. We do not sell flocked trees, and they are worth avoiding with pets, because the coating can upset a stomach if it is licked or chewed off.

Can I use essential oils to keep pets away from the tree?

Be careful. Citrus can deter dogs, but a number of essential oils are toxic to cats even in small amounts. Use a commercial pet-safe deterrent instead of making your own.

Keeping the tree itself healthy helps too, since a well-watered tree drops fewer needles in the first place. Our guide to keeping a real Christmas tree alive has the routine, and you can order yours on our real Christmas tree page.