Vet Check: Avoiding Holiday Hazards

Vet Check

Photos by Bethan Steere Photography

AVOIDING HOLIDAY HAZARDS

By Dr. Alexis Newman

E

nd of the year holidays are here and with them come a set of potential ingestion hazards for your K9. Many of these can be found in your home as well as in the field. In this article, we will review some of these hazards and the best steps to take if your K9 ingests them.

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Baked Goods and Sweets With the holiday season comes an abundance of eats and treats around the house and presumably, around your department. In moderation, these may not cause problems, but if your K9 partner ingests too much of a good thing, there is cause for concern.

MEDIUM DOG 30-50 pounds

SMALL DOG 5-10 pounds

Milk: 300+ grams Dark: 120+ grams

Milk: 90+ grams

Chocolate: We’ve all been told that chocolate

isn’t good for dogs, but do you know why? The potential toxicity of chocolate is based on how much theobromine is ingested per pound of body weight. Theobromine is the active ingredient in chocolate that can cause medical problems. In small quantities, ingestion of chocolate may not show any symptoms. As the amount of chocolate/theobromine ingested increases, so can the warning signs.

There are several kinds of chocolate, each containing varying levels of theobromine. In the same quantity, milk chocolate is safer than dark chocolate which is safer than Baker’s chocolate.

Typically, the more additional ingredients in a treat (ie: cake, cookies), the more dilute the chocolate. The amount of theobromine determines how toxic the material can be and the severity of the symptoms.

See Deadly Doses figures.

Symptoms of chocolate toxicity can begin with gastrointestinal signs, including vomiting and diarrhea. As dose dependent symptoms progress, they can include muscle tremors, elevated heart rate, seizures, and even coma or death.

If a K9 ingests a large portion of chocolate, the first step is to induce vomiting and try to remove the material from the stomach. Activated charcoal can be given orally — this helps to absorb additional material in the stomach. If a dog is already showing symptoms such as tremors or seizures, then aggressive care may be necessary; this can include IV fluids, medications to limit nausea, and anti-convulsants. As with all toxins, the sooner veterinary care is sought, the better.

Baker’s: 40+ grams

Dark: 36+ grams Baker’s: 12+ grams

DEADLY DOSES OF CHOCOLATE FOR YOUR K9

LARGE DOG 50+ pounds Milk: 900+ grams Dark: 360+ grams Baker’s: 120+ grams

*Deadly doses are estimates and in some cases may be less. A dog that ingests chocolate should receive veterinary attention immediately.

Xylitol: Xylitol is a sugar substitute used in many products — especially gum and mints, but also vitamins, sport drinks, some peanut butters, condiments, etc. It can also be used as a household baking ingredient in your favorite desserts. Interestingly, although safe for humans, xylitol can cause a life-threatening drop in blood sugar in dogs. As with many toxins, this is dose dependent, but the toxic dose is extremely low in dogs and the amount in a product is typically not easy to find. Low blood sugar can result quickly after ingestion, and delayed liver failure can also occur. Typically, symptoms can begin as weakness or lethargy and progress to tremors, seizures, and even death.

Any K9 known to ingest a xylitol containing product should seek veterinary advice and possibly care.

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The Holiday Meal

Winter Plants

While socializing with your friends and family, a sneaky K9 could get a taste of the holiday meal, leftovers, or even garbage scraps. Figuring out what he ingested is important because a sudden increase in the amount of fat consumed can result in inflammation of the pancreas. In some cases, pancreatitis can be mild and present as ‘flu-like’ symptoms which can be treated on an outpatient basis. However, other cases can become severe and life-threatening if not treated immediately. Your veterinarian will typically treat pancreatitis with supportive care for dehydration, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Many of us love to celebrate the holidays with lots of festive decorations, including seasonal plants. Though these plants are rarely truly dangerous, they can several problems for your dog.

Bones Whether cooked or raw, turkey, ham, or other meat bones can be a hazard for your K9. If bones are swallowed in small pieces, it is possible that they can pass through the intestinal tract without causing problems, but often ingestion of bones can be problematic. Cooked bones are typically more brittle than raw bones and can cause trauma to the intestinal tract. If small, cooked bones are ingested — such as the wishbone of a turkey — it may be recommended to continue to feed your K9. Feeding can cause the soft tissue on the bone to break down, allowing it to pass through naturally. However, if a larger bone is ingested — such as a ham bone — there is the potential it will become obstructed within the intestines. If you know your K9 has ingested a larger bone, I advise seeking immediate veterinary care. Sometimes these bones can be removed via endoscopy and avoid the need for surgery.

Many raw bones — especially chicken — will break down to small enough pieces to be able to pass. In fact, some dogs are fed a raw diet with bones and do okay. Even though these may have a smaller risk of blockage, there is still the potential for problems and your K9 should be monitored closely. Watch for symptom such as lack of appetite, vomiting, and straining to defecate. If any of these occur, it is important to seek veterinary care.

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Poinsettia Plants: The danger of poinsettias is more of an urban legend, but ingestion of the leaves and stems can cause mouth irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin irritation. Treatment to restore hydration, relieve upset stomach, and soothe irritation is typically given.

Mistletoe: Like Poinsettias, mistletoe can cause symptoms of vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In extremely high doses, there can be cardiovascular problems, but these are rare. Supportive care to restore hydration and treat upset stomach is the typical form of treatment.

Pine Needles: Lots of people enjoy having

a real Christmas tree for the fresh pine scent, but its thousands of little needles can lead to many issues. Symptoms include drooling, gagging, vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, tremors, seizures, coma, and other irritations of the intestinal tract. If too many pine needles are ingested, the stomach can actually become full — as I experienced with one of my patients — and surgical removal is necessary. Additionally, keep your K9 away from the water under the tree as it may contain toxic amounts of pine oil.

When any plant is ingested by your K9, it is important to seek advice from your veterinarian. Depending on the type of plant and how much is ingested, it may be recommended to induce vomiting. Overall, it is best to keep your K9 away from all types of seasonal plants.

Antifreeze Antifreeze is one of the more dangerous toxins that K9s have access to — potentially both at home and in the field. Antifreeze is typically a bright green liquid. Most commercial antifreeze products have a low toxic threshold — it does not take a lot to be ingested to be toxic to a dog.

There are “pet friendly” antifreeze products on the market, but they are still not safe for dogs. It does take more of these products to be dangerous, but in a high enough dose, they are still toxic. Because it is a liquid it can be absorbed quickly and symptoms can develop in a short period of time. Typically, the first symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. This can progress to depression and weakness, followed by lifethreatening kidney failure. If there is potential exposure to antifreeze, seek veterinary care.

Overall, the holiday season may lead to more exposure to toxins and ingestion of materials that could be dangerous to your K9. These risks can be mild to potentially life-threatening. If your K9 ingests any foreign material, it is always better to err on the side of caution and not delay treatment when needed. If you believe that your K9 has ingested a potentially poisonous item, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.

Dr. Alexis Newman received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University in 1998. Following veterinary school, she completed a surgical and emergency internship at California Animal Hospital in West Los Angeles. She has worked with police and working K9s for many years and understands the needs of the K9, the handler, and police departments. Her passion of working with police dogs and their handlers led to starting Partners and Paws Veterinary Services in June, 2013. Dr. Newman also enjoys working with sporting groups, rescue groups, and civilian dogs and cats.

Website: partnersandpaws.com

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