The Holiday Swallowing Epidemic Costing Pets Thousands
The holidays are supposed to be joyful. Twinkly lights, packed houses, comfort food, and way too many snacks. For veterinary teams, however, this season also brings a predictable spike in emergency visits caused by one thing. Pets eating absolutely everything they should not. New claims data from pet insurer Pumpkin paints a clear picture of what dogs and cats are swallowing between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, and how quickly a festive evening can turn into a four figure veterinary bill. The analysis reviewed thousands of veterinary claims filed between 2020 and 2025, offering valuable insights for clinicians preparing for the seasonal surge of foreign body and toxicity cases. For millennial pet parents who treat pets like kids, and for veterinary professionals fielding panicked late night calls, the message is the same. Holiday hazards are everywhere, and prevention is cheaper than surgery.
Chocolate Still Reigns Supreme for Dogs
Chocolate and candy continue to top the list of toxic ingestions for dogs, with hundreds of emergency claims recorded nationwide during the five year period. The average veterinary bill for chocolate ingestion clocks in at around $1,100, and that number climbs quickly when hospitalization is required. Even small amounts of chocolate can be dangerous due to theobromine and caffeine, both of which dogs metabolize far more slowly than humans. Dark chocolate, baking chocolate, and cocoa powder remain the most concerning, but even milk chocolate desserts left within reach can trigger clinical signs.
Costs rise when patients require induced emesis, activated charcoal, IV fluids, cardiac monitoring, and overnight observation. While dogs dominate these claims, Pumpkin’s data confirms that cats are not immune, with multiple feline chocolate ingestion cases reported. With candy bowls, baked goods, and dessert tables everywhere from Thanksgiving through New Year’s, this remains a key client education opportunity during holiday wellness visits.
For Cats, String Is the Real Villain
If dogs are stealing desserts, cats are targeting string. Pumpkin’s data shows that string is the number one cause of foreign body emergencies in cats. These cases often involve linear foreign body obstruction, a condition every veterinary professional knows all too well. When part of a string becomes anchored in the gastrointestinal tract, peristalsis causes the intestines to bunch up around it, much like a pleated curtain. Continued movement can lead to intestinal tearing, perforation, and life threatening complications.
The average cost to treat string ingestion exceeds $2,500. Similar items like hair ties, thread, and shoelaces still carry an average treatment cost of $1,000 or more. Clients should be reminded that play with string or ribbon should always be supervised, especially during gift wrapping season. If a cat swallows string, pulling it is never safe. Immediate veterinary evaluation is critical.
Toys Account for One in Five Foreign Body Claims
Toys make up roughly 20 percent of all foreign object ingestion claims for both dogs and cats. The holidays are a perfect storm for these incidents. New toys, visiting guests, changes in routine, and overstimulation often mean less supervision and more destructive play.
According to Pumpkin’s data, the average veterinary bills for toy ingestion are significant:
Dogs average around $2,500
Cats average around $1,900
Veterinarians consistently recommend discarding damaged or torn toys immediately. This advice extends beyond pet toys. In households with children, small plastic parts like Legos, doll accessories, and action figure pieces frequently end up swallowed by curious pets. Encouraging families to do a pre holiday sweep of the home can prevent many of these emergencies.
The Wild Card Objects You Would Not Expect
Some of the most expensive cases come from items pet parents never consider dangerous. Pumpkin’s claims data highlights several surprising offenders along with their average veterinary costs:
Socks, accounting for about 8 percent of all 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
These cases often require advanced imaging, endoscopy, or surgery, contributing to the higher costs. Corn cobs and bones remain particularly common during holiday meals, reinforcing the importance of trash control and client education.
Understanding the why helps veterinary teams guide prevention conversations. Dogs and cats ingest inappropriate objects for several reasons:
Natural curiosity and exploration
Stress, boredom, or separation anxiety
Attraction to movement, texture, or scent
Pica linked to underlying medical or behavioral conditions
Using the mouth is a normal exploratory behavior for both species. However, repeated or unusual ingestion of non food items should prompt further evaluation for medical or behavioral contributors.
Red Flags Clients Should Never Ignore
Educating pet parents on early warning signs can reduce delays in treatment and improve outcomes. Common signs of ingestion include:
Vomiting or unproductive retching
Abdominal pain or bloating
Lethargy or hiding behavior
Diarrhea or constipation
Drooling or pawing at the mouth, especially in cats with string
Visible string, which should never be pulled
If ingestion is suspected, clients should contact their primary veterinarian or local emergency hospital immediately. For suspected toxic food or chemical exposure, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center remains a critical resource at 888-426-4435.
The data confirms what clinics see every December. Holiday hazards are predictable, preventable, and expensive. For veterinary professionals, this information offers a powerful tool for proactive client education. Sharing real cost data, clear examples, and practical prevention tips can help families protect their pets and avoid emergency visits that strain both emotions and finances. Because nothing ruins a holiday faster than a pet in surgery, except maybe the bill that follows.
