At Christmas, panettone is now a classic in many homes, and your dog knows it: their eyes follow every slice. The question soon comes up: can dogs eat panettone? The short answer is no. The main reason is the raisins, which are toxic to dogs even in small amounts. Here’s what makes this sweet bread dangerous, how pandoro compares and what to do, step by step, if your dog has already eaten a piece.
Can dogs eat panettone? The risky ingredients
Classic panettone isn’t a treat to let your dog try. There are four ingredients to watch out for:
- Raisins. Grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney injury in dogs. No amount is considered safe and the reaction varies a great deal from one dog to another: some have no symptoms, while others become ill after just a few raisins. That’s why it must always be treated as an emergency.
- Chocolate. Panettones with chocolate chips, a chocolate glaze or a chocolate filling contain theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. Dark chocolate is the most dangerous.
- Alcohol. Some cream fillings and some syrups contain liqueur, such as rum or limoncello. Even a little alcohol is too much for a small dog.
- Xylitol. “No added sugar” versions may contain this sweetener, which is highly toxic to dogs. Always check the label.
On top of that there’s the butter, sugar and candied fruit: they aren’t poisons, but such a rich dough can cause vomiting and diarrhoea and, in dogs prone to it, contribute to pancreatitis.
What about pandoro? Less risky, but not for your dog
Pandoro has no raisins, so the main risk disappears. Even so, it’s a sweet bread full of butter, egg and sugar, with icing sugar on top. A small piece snatched off the floor isn’t usually an emergency in the way raisins are, but it isn’t a treat either: over the festive season, “crumbs” from the whole family soon add up. The same goes for panettone without raisins or candied fruit. Do be careful, however, with pandoros filled with chocolate cream or liqueur, which fall into the risk categories above.
My dog ate panettone: what to do
- Move whatever’s left out of their reach and see how much is missing.
- Keep the packaging: it will tell you whether it contained raisins, chocolate, alcohol or xylitol.
- Note down three things: what time they ate it, how much they ate and how much your dog weighs.
- Call your vet or an emergency vet straight away, even if your dog seems perfectly fine. With raisins, symptoms can appear several hours later, and it’s best to act before then.
- Don’t try to make them vomit yourself with salt water or other home remedies: it can be dangerous. If it’s needed, that’s for the vet to decide.
Over the next few hours, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, unusual tiredness or loss of appetite, and for any change in how much they drink or urinate. Tell your vet about all of it.
If the piece contained chocolate, you’ll find the specific steps in our guide my dog ate chocolate.
How to protect your dog over the festive season
- Keep panettone up high and sealed. Don’t leave it on the living room coffee table or open on the worktop: a dog standing on their back legs can reach it.
- Warn your guests, especially children: no little bits passed under the table, not even to keep your dog still.
- Use a bin with a lid. Leftovers, the paper case and ribbons all go in there, and paper, if swallowed, can cause intestinal problems.
- Presents under the tree. To a dog’s nose, a wrapped panettone smells very strongly: best not to leave it on the floor.
What to give them instead: their own festive moment
Your dog doesn’t need panettone: they need to feel part of the occasion. While the family is at the table, give them something to do with their food. Put part of their daily ration or their usual treats in a silicone slow feeder bowl with 5 zones: to reach each piece they have to search and lick, so they concentrate and eat more slowly. That keeps them occupied and less interested in what’s on the table.
To find out what’s safe and what isn’t on the rest of the Christmas menu, read what dogs can eat at Christmas too.
In short
Panettone with raisins must be avoided completely, as must chocolate ones, liqueur ones and “no added sugar” ones containing xylitol. Plain pandoro is less risky, but it isn’t a treat. If your dog has eaten a piece, call your vet without waiting for symptoms to appear.