Your Pet Thinks the Holidays Are a Buffet. The Vet Bills Say Otherwise.

The holidays are magical. Cozy meals, gift wrapping marathons, kids on the floor with toys, and snacks everywhere you look. For pets, it is basically the Super Bowl of temptation. For pet parents, it can quickly become an emergency trip to the vet. New data from pet insurer Pumpkin shows just how often curious dogs and cats swallow things they should not during the holiday season, and how expensive those mistakes can be. The analysis looked at thousands of real veterinary claims filed between 2020 and 2025, revealing the most common holiday hazards and the eye watering vet bills that often follow. If you have ever thought, “My pet would never eat that,” this article is for you.

Chocolate Is Still Public Enemy Number One for Dogs

Chocolate and candy top the list of dangerous ingestions for dogs, with hundreds of emergency claims recorded nationwide. The average vet bill for chocolate ingestion comes in at about $1,100, and that cost can climb fast if your dog needs to stay overnight. Chocolate is toxic because it contains theobromine and caffeine, which dogs process much more slowly than people do. Even small amounts can cause vomiting, tremors, heart problems, or worse. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are especially risky, but milk chocolate desserts and candy bowls are still dangerous.

And cats are not totally off the hook. Pumpkin’s data shows that cats have also ended up at the vet after chocolate exposure. With desserts everywhere from Thanksgiving through New Year’s, keeping sweets locked away can save you a lot of stress and money.

For Cats, String Is the Biggest Danger

If dogs are stealing chocolate, cats are going after string. According to Pumpkin’s data, string is the most common cause of emergency foreign body cases in cats. Ribbon, yarn, thread, hair ties, and shoelaces may look harmless, but they can cause a serious condition called a linear foreign body obstruction. This happens when part of the string gets stuck inside the digestive tract while the rest keeps moving. The intestines can bunch up and even tear, leading to life threatening complications.

Treating string ingestion often costs $2,500 or more. Similar items like hair ties or thread can still cost $1,000 or more to treat. If your cat loves string toys or ribbon, always supervise playtime. If you ever see string hanging from your cat’s mouth or rear end, do not pull it. Call your veterinarian immediately.

Toys Cause One in Five Swallowing Accidents

Toys account for about 20 percent of all foreign object ingestion claims in both dogs and cats. The holidays are a perfect setup for these accidents. New toys, guests coming and going, busy schedules, and pets feeling overexcited or stressed can lead to chewed up toys and swallowed pieces.

The average vet bills for swallowed toy parts are not small:

Dogs average about $2,500
Cats average about $1,900

Damaged toys should be tossed right away. And if you have kids, check their toys too. Pets have swallowed everything from Legos to doll heads, often when no one was watching. A quick sweep of the house before gatherings can make a big difference.

The Weird Stuff Pets Love to Eat

Some of the most expensive emergencies come from items pet parents never expect to be a problem.

Pumpkin’s data highlights these surprise offenders and their average vet bills:

Socks, making up about 8 percent of dog ingestion claims, average $3,500
Corn cobs and cooked bones range from $500 to $1,800
Sticks average $1,100
Rocks top the list at an average of $4,400

Holiday meals, overflowing trash cans, and guests leaving food unattended all increase the risk. A locked trash bin and clear instructions for guests can help prevent disaster.

Why Pets Eat Things They Should Not

Pets are not trying to ruin your holiday. They eat weird things for reasons that often make sense to them:

Curiosity and exploration
Boredom, stress, or separation anxiety
Attraction to certain textures, smells, or movement
Medical or behavioral conditions that cause pica

Dogs and cats naturally explore the world with their mouths. However, if your pet repeatedly eats non food items, it is worth talking to your veterinarian to rule out underlying issues.

Signs Your Pet May Have Swallowed Something Dangerous

Knowing the warning signs can help you act fast. Watch for:

Vomiting or gagging
A swollen or painful belly
Lethargy or hiding
Diarrhea or constipation
Drooling or pawing at the mouth, especially in cats
Visible string, which should never be pulled

If you think your pet swallowed something dangerous, call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic right away. For toxic foods or chemicals, you can also contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.

The holidays are meant to be joyful, not stressful. Pumpkin’s claims data shows that many of the most common holiday emergencies are preventable with a little extra awareness. Keeping dangerous foods out of reach, supervising play, checking toys, and managing trash can help protect your pet and your wallet. Because the only thing that should be shocking this holiday season is the gift you did not expect, not a surprise trip to the emergency vet.