HOLIDAY HAZARDS

BY DR. ANDERSON & DR. SUMMERFIELD - WEST FARGO ANIMAL HOSPITAL

hile the holiday season is a time that’s filled with fun, wonder and excitement, it can also be a dangerous time for your pets. It is very important to be sure food, decorations and seasonal plants are out of reach for both cats and dogs. Problems may range from a minor upset stomach or diarrhea to major disease requiring surgery … or worse. At West Fargo Animal Hospital, the holidays are a busy time! This article provides you with a brief outline of the most important things for pet owners to watch out for during the holiday season in order to keep their pets safe.

Food

1. CANDY/CHOCOLATE

Xylitol is a sugar substitute in MANY sugar-free candies that can cause severe, life-threatening disease. Chocolate contains theobromine which causes heart rhythm disturbances, tremors, and seizures. Theobromine is more highly concentrated in dark chocolate and baker’s chocolate.

2. BREAD DOUGH

A warm, dark stomach is the perfect environment for dough to rise. Unfortunately, there is no way to make it stop rising and it is very hard to get it out of the stomach once the dough has expanded. Do not wait if your dog eats rising dough … call your veterinarian immediately!

3. POPCORN ON A STRING

The fun, age-old tradition of stringing popcorn to decorate a tree can be troublesome if a pet decides to eat this tasty decoration. The popcorn itself is not a problem, but the string is. Severe intestinal obstructions can occur if this happens. If a needle is still attached (ie: the project wasn’t completed yet) then that poses even more concern. Contact a veterinarian immediately if this occurs. The sooner you do, the easier this may be resolved.

4. THANKSGIVING or CHRISTMAS DINNER

Feeding your pet fatty foods such as ham, turkey and trimmings, or gravy can lead to pancreatitis which ranges from mild disease to severe and life-threatening illness. Our pets aren’t designed to digest food like this and many of their bodies revolt! Ingestion of bones (such as from turkey carcasses) can result in them becoming lodged in the mouth, throat or intestines.

5. ALCOHOL

Many enjoy a fun holiday cocktail, including pets, if these drinks are left unattended. The problem lies in the fact that pets are MUCH smaller than humans, so only a few sips could lead to inebriation. Animals can succumb to severe alcohol poisoning just like humans can.

Decorations

1. TINSEL/GARLAND

Ingestion of strands of tinsel (cats) or long pieces or garland (dogs) may lead to severe intestinal obstructions resulting in surgery.

2. CANDLES/POTPOURRI

Pets are curious about open flames. They may singe their whiskers or knock over a candle with their curiosity. Warm potpourri could lead to burns in the mouth or paws. Any type of potpourri may cause diarrhea or vomiting if ingested.

3. GLASS ORNAMENTS

If your pet bites a glass ornament or breaks it, they can receive cuts or scrapes in the mouth or paws. If they eat the hook it can become lodged anywhere along the GI tract.

Don’t recreate the movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation! Supervise pets around light strings. Biting the cord or bulbs could cause severe burns in the mouth, heart and lung problems, or even electrocution.

Plants

Cats are typically the ones who like to drink the water at the bottom of the tree. The substances in most preservatives that can be added to this water are usually in small enough amounts that they do not cause pets to become ill. However, we do occasionally see mild stomach and intestinal signs such as diarrhea or vomiting. If the water becomes contaminated with fungus or bacteria, this could lead to more severe disease. Ingestion of pine needles will most commonly lead to vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, or depression. Depending on where that needle decides to travel and if it gets stuck anywhere, more extreme illness is possible.

Ingestion of either plant usually leads to a mild upset stomach. If mistletoe is purchased in a store, the berries are often removed and replaced with plastic “berries” which can become a foreign body.

While it is commonly thought that poinsettias are highly toxic to pets, in reality most pets only experience mild, self-limiting vomiting that resolves quickly. Very large quantities would have to be ingested for more serious symptoms to occur.

This article is a very brief overview of the more common items pets can get into during the holiday season that may have a negative impact on their health. Pets are curious by nature, so if you are concerned about something they “explored” please call a veterinarian right away. They are your best source for detailed information.

West Fargo Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinary hospital for cats and dogs. We are located at 730 13th Avenue East in West Fargo and can be reached by phone at 701-282-2898. Our website is www.westfargoanimalhospital. vetsuite.com and you can find us on Facebook as well!