Holiday Dangers for Pets

The holidays are here!  And while this is a joyous time of year, we need to be aware that there can be added dangers for our pets this time of year.  Here is a list of some common things that can pose a threat to our four-legged friends around the holidays. 

Food

• 
  Chocolate-  Most people are aware that chocolate is toxic to pets.  Dogs are most susceptible since they are known to eat just about anything.  The toxins in chocolate are theobromine and caffeine.  The darker and richer the chocolate (Baker’s chocolate), the higher the risk of poisoning.  Milk chocolate is the least toxic.  The toxins in chocolate stimulate the central nervous system, increase urine output and cause a rapid heartbeat.  The animal may vomit and have diarrhea, may become very thirsty, become restless and hyperactive.  This may progress to a lack of coordination, tremors and seizures.  In some cases coma and death are the outcome. 

   

• 
   Xylitol- Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in sugarless gum, candies and baked goods.  It is highly toxic to pets.  It causes a rapid decrease in blood sugar and signs usually seen are vomiting, weakness, ataxia (lack of coordination), depression, seizures, coma and liver dysfunction and/or liver failure. 

         

• 
  Grapes and raisins- This is most common in dogs but has been reported in cats as well.  Dogs develop vomiting and/or diarrhea.  You may also notice loss of appetite, weakness, abdominal pain, excessive thirst and dehydration and tremors.  Kidney failure usually develops and usually ends in death. 

 

• 
  Fatty meat scraps and other fatty foods- while dogs may love these scraps, they aren’t used to eating them all the time, and they can sure cause problems.  Human food is a lot richer than dog food.  It is not uncommon for dogs who get table scraps to not want to eat dog food.  Most veterinary clinics see a rise in the cases of gastroenteritis and pancreatitis after the holidays.  Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, which is a gland that secretes enzymes into the intestines for the digestion of foods.  It also manufactures insulin. Pancreatitis is often seen in an animal who has gotten into the trash, or eaten a large amount of fatty table scraps.  Signs you often see are an animal with a very painful abdomen, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and sometimes death.   One case in particular I remember seeing a few days after Christmas was a very sick labrador retriever who had gotten in the trash and eaten scraps of all kinds but also tin foil and the skin from a country ham.  The dog died from a case of acute necrotizing pancreatitis, also called hemorrhagic pancreatitis. 

    

•  Macadamia Nuts- these nuts are toxic to dogs.  Dogs may vomit and show weakness, become depressed, and uncoordinated.  You may also see a fever and tremors. 

Plants

• 
  Holly- the berries and leaves of this plant can be moderately to very toxic.  Signs usually seen are vomiting and diarrhea, depression, and abdominal pain. 

• 
  Mistletoe-  all parts of this plant are highly toxic, especially the berries.  Signs seen are vomiting, profuse diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, dilated pupils, shock and death from cardiovascular collapse.

• 
  Poinsettia- The poinsettia plant is not as toxic as once thought.  But the milky sap can be very irritating.  The sap irritates the mucous membranes of the mouth and stomach and you usually will see drooling, vomiting, but not death.

• 
  Lilies-  Most varieties of lilies are toxic to cats and can cause them to go into kidney failure. 

Alcoholic beverages-  There is nothing funny or entertaining in feeding a dog alcohol.  Most people are aware of alcohol poisoning in humans.  It can happen in animals too, and it doesn’t take much in a small cat or dog.  The animal experiences a dangerous drop in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature.  You may see vomiting, diarrhea, ataxia, drooling, depression and tremors.  The animal may have seizures and respiratory failure and coma. 

Bones-  Bones can be very dangerous when animals ingest them, especially poultry bones which can splinter easily.  They can cause gastrointestinal tears, obstructions, punctures, and inflammation.  Signs usually seen are vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and death.

Batteries-   Be very careful about leaving batteries for all those Christmas toys and electronics lying around under the Christmas tree.  Puppies are known to like to play with batteries.  Chewing on batteries can cause acid burns in the mouth as well as physical damage from the jagged metal from the battery.  Button batteries can cause esophageal obstruction as well as ulcers in the esophagus.  Small batteries can also pose a choking hazard.  Signs of an obstruction include vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and unsuccessful attempts to defecate.  The tongue, mucous membranes of the mouth, stomach, and esophagus may get burns. 

Holiday decorations

• 
  Tinsel/Garland and ribbon-  Cats and kittens love to play with shiny objects.  If chewed on and swallowed, these objects can become lodged in the intestines where they cause the intestines to bunch up, which causes intestinal obstruction, making surgery a necessity.  I would recommend not having any icicle type tinsel in the house if you have pets, particularly cats and kittens. 

   

• 
  Electrical cords- young animals, especially puppies and kittens will chew on electrical cords and can suffer electrocution.  Always hide or cover your cords.  You can also try spraying the cord with a bitter-tasting pet repellant (like bitter apple).   I might also mention that certain exotic pets, especially rabbits and other rodents, and ferrets love to chew on cords. 

• 
  Glass ornaments- I have a cat who loves to walk by the Christmas tree and swat at any low-hanging ornaments within his reach.  One year he knocked some glass ornaments off the tree and batted them through the living room to the dining room where they hit the leg of the dining room table and shattered.  While he wasn’t hurt, it could have been a disaster waiting to happen.  Shards of glass can injure paws and worse yet, if ingested can slice the G.I. tissues.  Keep glass ornaments out of reach of pets. 

                                                          

• 
  Angel hair-  Angel hair is spun glass.  It can be very irritating to the eyes and skin and can produce an intestinal obstruction if ingested.

• 
  Christmas tree- the ingestion of pine needles can upset the digestive tract and cause vomiting and diarrhea.  Keep dead pine needles swept up.  Also some cats like to climb the Christmas tree and can knock it over.  If pets are around, don’t add preservatives or fertilizers to the Christmas tree water as this seems to be a favorite place to drink for a lot of dogs and cats.  Also make sure that the water doesn’t become stagnant, as it often will. 

Have a safe and happy Christmas holiday and remember to watch out for the four-legged members of the family! 

Gail ♥

  



Delicious holiday gourmet: traps for your dog"s stomach, guts and pancreas

In the past years working in animal hospitals, the number of gastroenteritis, foreign body obstruction or pancreatitis cases go up during the Chinese New Year holiday. Some will think vomiting and diarrhoea is no big deal but in fact they could be the early signs of a much more serious illness – pancreatitis. The cost of treating this disease could easily reach thousands and some of these cases still ended by adding to the death toll despite the best efforts from the medicial staffs.

It’s relaxing and appetitizing in holidays and looking at friends and family members feasting, your dogs will likely circle around everybody and speak with their eyes “some for me, give me a bit PLEASE~~~!”

While tiny little bit of treats maybe OK, some “gourmet” just aren’t for dogs if you don’t want to spoil your nice holiday.

Let’s give a big hand to Mrs Gullable and her beloved dog Doggy to demonstrate a list of DON’Ts:

“Roasted chicken wings” is Doggy’s favorite in the BBQ party, and he will finish the bones as well.

• Don’t give a piece of bone that your dog may swallow nor bones will sharp edges.


• Chicken bones and bones cooked in soup can be broken into pieces easily and are with sharp edges


• Dog’s disgestive system is not designed for handling big pieces of bones. If they swallow a whole piece of bone, they can end up with intestinal foreign body obstruction. That will need to be taken out surgically in order to save a life.


• The sharp edegs of the bones may cut the buccal cavity and the digestive tract, causing bleeding and then bacterial infection.


• Raw bones may carry bacteria so it is another don’t.

 We have a big feast for a family, Doggy will have some milk.

• Dogs can have lactose (milk sugar) intolerance


• Rapid change of food content can also lead to gut/stomach upset (vomiting & diarrhea)

We will have BBQ pork/roast pork and there is plenty of preserved meat in the special New dish. Doggy can have a bite.

• Fatty food (with high fat content) is a risk factor of (acute) pancreatitis


• Pancreatitis is usually diagnosed by having unusual increase in pancreatic digestive enzymes found blood testing


• Digestive enzymes will normally stay in the digestive system


• When the pancreas cells are damaged, the enzymes can leak into the blood stream.


• The abdominal cavity and the organs inside are being digested by these enzymes, causing tissue damages and severe pain.


• Dogs that are on medications or having pre-existing diseases are more prone to pancreatitis, e.g.:


• Obesity, diabetes, epilepsy, gastrointestinal problems, endocrine disorders (e.g. hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism)


• Certain drugs: furosemide (diuretics), tetracyclines, estrogens, sulfadrugs

Signs of canine acute pancreatitis:

• Vomiting and diarrhea


• Cranial (close to ribs) abdominal pain and may support the body with “praying stance”


• Apathy and anorexia


• In severe cases: fever, dehydration, shock, tachycardia (heart beating too fast), arrhythmia (heart beating with abnormal rhythm), jaundice (yellowing of the skin, eye-white and/or mucus membrane), intra-abdominal bleeding, respiratory distress, DIC (Disseminated intravascular coagulation, formation of small blood clots inside the blood vessels throughout the body triggered by diseases)


•  The worst outcome is death

Pancreatitis can be difficult to treat and the medical bill can be increased exponentially when it is a severe case that involved more procedures and medicines.

• If the dog is dehydrated and in shock, he may need to be hospitalized for a drip and intensive care


• The dog maybe fasted when he is still vomiting and having diarrhea and to let the pancreas rest


• If the dog is strong enough, stronger pain control medicine may be administered to ease the severe abdominal pain and the dog’s suffering


• An acute pancreatitis can turn into a chronic one or pancreatic insufficiency that cannot be cured. If so, the dog will have to stay on special diet (ultra-low fat with increased oligo-fiber) added with digestive enzymges for the rest of his life.

If fatty meat is not alright, then fruit and vegetable should be fine, isn’t it?

• Certain vegetables and fruits e.g.: Grapes, avocado & onion etc could cause kidney damage, leading to renal (kidney) failure, which consequences are more severe then having gut-stomach discomfort.


• As the chemical(s) responsible for the poisoning is not yet isolated, therefore the toxicology and how the body is damaged remained unclear

Is it ok to give “Po Chai Pill/Triumpet brand pills” (for treating stomach upset in human) if Doggy is having vomiting and diarrhea?

• Never! Vomiting and diarrhea are signs of diseases instead of the causes of them. To treat the diseases, the causes must be found


• The list of ingredients aren’t listed on the package nor the descriptions of these pills


• There was no literature or toxicology information available from main stream veterinary publications, making treating the poisoning from these pills extra difficult.


• Many of the dogs who have taken these pills still died despite having intra-venous fluid flushing and intensive care. Signs included:

1. Liver damage and increased liver enzymes in blood


2. Severe vomiting and diarrhea and blood is often seen in the vomits and stool


3. When the liver shut down, toxins inside the body can’t be processed and jaundice is observed. The kidneys are overloaded after the liver is damaged and kidney failure is resulted.

Gocha:  After a BBQ party at home during the weekend, Doggy run into vomiting and is now in the vet’s office

The vet may want to know:	What is the vet considering?
When did Doggy start vomiting and how many times he vomited? Is he also having diarrhea (number of times)? Was he completely fine before the party?	Is the vomiting related to the BBQ party or is it a problem happened before they party? Is it just the stomach affected or is it the whole digestive tract?
Is Doggy fully and regularly vaccinated?	Try to rule out if the vomiting and diarrhea is caused by viral infection such as distemper and parvo virus
Did he bring up undigested food or just bile?	How is the digestive tract functioning in the mean time?
Is Doggy still interested in his food? Can he keep his food down? If not, how long did he vomit after eating?	How much is the digestive tract affected? Apart from infection (involves medicine treatment), will foreign body obstruction be a possible cause (need surgical treatment)?
Will Doggy scavenge if he is given the chance?	Trying to rule-out or confirm with the help of environmental evidence for foreign body obstruction.
Will it be possible that your guest tried to show his affections towards Doggy by giving a bite?	Is the upset caused by food change (intolerance)? Is it possible to be a pancreatitis (severe systemic problem that is unlikely to recover by treating at home and may need hospitalization)
Is there recently application of pesticides or fertilizers?	Is the digestive tract irritated by chemicals and would it be caused by poisoning (may need to administer oral activated charcoal? Injection of antidote? IV fluid? Hospitalization?)

During the Chinese New Year Holiday, the practices you have been going to could also be having their holiday or having changed their opening hours. To play save, just give them a call to confirm and make sure you have their emergency call number.

Wish you and your pet,

Good health and good fortune in the year of the rabbit!

Reference:

1. J.M. Steiner (2010) How I diagnose/How I treat – Chronic Pancreatitis in Dogs, Proceedings of the 35^th World Small Animal Veterinary Congress 2010, Geneva, Switzerland, C11


2. Thomas Spillmann (2008) Canine Pancreatitis – From clinical suspicion to diagnosis, Proceedings of the 33^rd World Small Animal Veterinary Congress, Dublin, Ireland, p379-381


3. Penny Watson (2007) Acute Pancreatitis in Dogs, Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference Congress, Orlando Florida, p458-461


4. John Dunn (1999) Textbook of Small Animal Medicine, W.B. Saunders, Harcourt Brace and Company, Contents, problem-oriented medicine

Holiday Hazards For Pets From ‘Behavior Dogtor’ Dr. Rachel Malamed - CBS Los Angeles

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STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — Should the host’s pet be a guest at a dinner party?

Dr. Rachel Malamed stopped by KCAL9 Friday to talk about the holiday hazard for pets and how to pet proof the house.

These are the tips she shared:

Table scraps

• Mother was right; don’t feed the dog under the table. Fat, gravies, rich meats, and other savory table scraps can be very dangerous for your pets, particularly dogs. It’s not unusual for dogs to come down with a life-threatening disease called pancreatitis after being offered too many “treats” by misguided, but loving, owners or after the animal has raided the garbage following a holiday feast. Pancreatitis causes profuse vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain and in servere cases, death. Bring your dog into the veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog has pancreatitis.

Candy

• There are a number of things in candy that is bad for pets, but among the worst is the wrapper. Dogs and cats won’t bother to un-wrap the candy, they’ll just swallow it, and the wrapper can cause an intestinal blockage. In fact, animals have been known to eat the wrapper by itself, because it smells good, and get a blockage. Keep candy out of a pets’ reach, and clean up those delicious wrappers.

Decorative injuries

• Your pets may enjoy seeing the new decorations in your home as much as you do.  Trees to climb, garland to hang from, extension cords to chew—the introduction of festive decor can cause potential injuries.  In a house with pets, a good method of avoiding tree climbing injuries for pets is to mount the Christmas tree to the ceiling or wall very securely using fishing line.  Hide extension cords away and don’t let your pets near them, along with other decorations.

Tasty decorations

• Some decorations are so pretty that they look good enough to eat.  Unfortunately, dogs and cats often take this sentiment literally.  Cats often eat tinsel, leading to severe intestinal problems that could require surgery.  Potpourri smells wonderful and people love to use it to  create  holiday ambiance.  Unfortunately, it smells so good that pets have been known to drink from the potpourri pot or even eat the wet, fragrant wood chips.  This can make an animal sick.

Flowers and plants

• Many times we put out new plants, flowers or trimmings, depending on the holiday, and these can be poisonous and deadly.  For example, poinsettias and mistletoe, common in Christmas celebrations, are dangerous if swallowed by a dog.  Don’t let your pet eat Christmas tree needles and don’t add any toxic chemicals to your Christmas tree water, because your pet may decide to take a drink under the tree.

Sugar-free snacks

• Xylitol is a common artificial sweetener in baked goods and sugar-free gum and candy.  It’s also poisonous for dogs.  It can be deadly, particularly if the animal gets into a lot of it, or it’s a small dog.  Symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs includes depression, loss of coordination and seizures, and they can start in as little as 30 minutes after the animal has ingested the sweetener.  This is another reason to make sure you keep your pets away from holiday treats, table scraps and candy.

Chocolate

• Chocolate is a big part of many holiday celebrations, but not for pets.  The chemical that is poisonous to dogs is in the cocoa of chocolate, theobromine, so the darker the chocolate the deadlier. Be wary of pets sniffing around the new and popular extra-dark chocolates. Baking chocolate has by far the most theobromine, and can be deadly in small amounts.  Symptoms of theobromine poisoning can set in in just a couple hours, so call your veterinarian immediately if you discover your pet has consumed chocolate.  Save the wrappers of any chocolates consumed, because your veterinarian will want to know how much your pooch has consumed.

Guests

• Many pets can become downright panicked when faced with a lot of new visitors.  Some dogs and cats can become so upset that they can do damage your furniture and walls, themselves or your guest.  If you know your pet is uneasy about houseguests and you have some friends coming over, don’t not panic; consult with your veterinarian to find a solution.

Candles

• A lit candle can provide a real hazard.  Your animals could knock it down and set their fur, or your home, on fire.  Never leave a pet alone with a lit candle.

Pets as presents

• The American Veterinary Medical Association advises against giving pets as presents, because the recipient doesn’t have the opportunity to have an active role in selecting the animal … or the opportunity to consider the responsibilities of owning that particular pet.  Pets need healthy food, exercise, love, training, attention, and they need regular veterinary visits to keep them healthy and free of pain and distress.  Rather than giving a living pet on a busy holiday where the noise and activity may cause them distress, consider giving a “certificate” entitling them to help select a pet or wrap a water bowl or other item the new pet will need.

For more information, visit Behavior Dogtor.

Pancreatitis, A Common Holiday Danger for Pets

Thanksgiving is traditionally a holiday of giving – giving thanks for all we have, giving turkey, gravy, pies and other goodies to family and friends. With the abundance of food, it’s natural to want to show our love towards our cats and dogs by sharing some of the bounty. What better way to indulge our beloved pets than by sharing our food?

Most “people” food is not harmful to our four-legged friends, but moderation is the key! Small amounts of turkey, gravy, sweet potatoes and green beans are fine – large amounts can cause anything from stomach upset and vomiting, to diarrhea or worse. What can be worse?

Pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas and is very painful. If not treated promptly, it can even be fatal. There are a number of factors that can increase the likelihood of your pet developing pancreatitis, but during the holiday season, the typical reason is being too generous with the holiday feast, as high levels of fat are a trigger. Other factors include: age – middle-aged animals are more prone, obesity, a high-fat diet, some medications, and past cases of Pancreatitis.

Symptoms to look for:

• Refusal to eat


• Dehydration


• Lethargy


• Vomiting


• Diarrhea (often yellow)


• Distended stomach


• A hunched posture when standing or walking

If you suspect Pancreatitis, rush your pet to the vet, don’t wait. It is extremely painful and can be fatal.

If it’s suspected your dog is suffering from Pancreatitis, your vet will diagnose by doing blood work, an ultrasound and/or x-rays and a physical examination. Typically, liver enzymes are elevated. Treatment includes I.V. fluids, withholding food, and pain medications. Expect your pet to have to stay at least overnight, and possibly for a couple of days. Once recovered, future prognosis is fairly good, but there may be further complications – diabetes can develop as a result, and your pet will now be more prone to developing Pancreatitis, so will need to be on a low-fat diet for the rest of its life.

It’s up to us to protect our pets, even from our own kindness. It’s fine to share the goodies – just do it in moderation and spread it out over a few days rather than giving a huge feast at once. Mix it with your pet’s normal food instead of giving a bowlful of food your pet is not accustomed to eating. Your pet will appreciate the change of pace, and you can rest assured that your pet will get through the holidays without a medical emergency.

About Deb Runyan

Deb Runyan loves animals, especially dogs. She is a graduate of Fairmont State University and did her graduate work at Marshall University. Deb is actively involved with dog rescue, she’s the Donation Director of her rescue and often has foster dogs living in her home. She lives in Michigan with her family and their 4 dogs.

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Holiday Cheer

December 19, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: holiday pets illnesses pancreatitis gastroenteritis colitis anthropomorphize | Leave a comment

With the holidays upon us, I just wanted to remind all pet owners to be vigilant in preventing DOGsasters and CATastrophies. Every pet owner is a Jewish mother at heart, but giving in to those instincts can result in serious illnesses. Offering our pets holiday food, meats, sweets, and whatever else might “fall from the table”, can result in such diseases as pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, colitis, and even intestinal obstruction, all potentially life threatening problems. Little wonder that the busiest times of the year for veterinarians are holidays. So my fellow pet lovers, do your pets and yourselves a favor and do not give in to your primal urges to further anthropomorphize them by feeding them your own high fat, high calorie diet. This way, I can spend my professional time saving the lives of those other unfortunate pets that have had the misfortune of colliding with a Mack Truck or some other calamity. Happy and Healthy holidays to all my fellow pet lovers.

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