k9mania
12-17-2006, 04:42 AM
Marty Smith, DVM (http://www.peteducation.com/author.cfm?cls=2&cat=0&art=932&ath=9)
Holly Nash, DVM, MS (http://www.peteducation.com/author.cfm?cls=2&cat=0&art=932&ath=10)
Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.
We want the holidays to be a happy time for you and your pet, not a time for an emergency visit to your veterinarian. The food and decorations that make the holidays so much fun for us can be dangerous for your pet. We do not want this article to dampen your holiday spirits, but we do want you to be aware of the dangers and plan carefully to avoid these potential hazards.
Food - Related Items Holiday foods we enjoy cooking and eating can be a problem for your pet.
Rich, fatty foods, like gravy or grease, can cause problems ranging from stomach upsets to pancreatitis (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWin1('/dictionary_term.cfm?term=pancreatitis&cls=2', 50, 50, 350, 300)), which is an inflammation (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWin1('/dictionary_term.cfm?term=inflammation&cls=2', 50, 50, 350, 300)) of the pancreas resulting in pain, vomiting, and dehydration. Dogs with this serious condition often require hospitalization for treatment.
Alcohol can cause serious intoxications in pets, and many dogs are attracted to it. Every year hundreds of dogs die after a single bout of alcohol consumption. Clean up glasses after holiday parties. Dogs are often attracted by the sweet taste of drinks, especially eggnog.
Chocolate (http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1939&articleid=2238), coffee, and tea all contain dangerous components called xanthines, which cause nervous system or urinary system damage and heart muscle stimulation. Chocolate, with theobromine, is especially a problem because dogs love its flavor. Problems from ingestion range from diarrhea to seizures and death. Unsweetened baking chocolate and dark chocolate are the worst culprits, but all chocolate, fudge, and other candy should be placed out of your dog's reach.
Uncooked meat, fish, and poultry can contain disease-causing bacteria, such as E. coli, and parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii (http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1621&articleid=771). These uncooked foods should not be given to your dog. For your own health, as well as your pet's, wash utensils that have been in contact with raw meat, and cook meat thoroughly.
Bones from fish, meat, or poultry can also cause problems if swallowed. Even small bones can splinter causing lacerations (tearing) throughout the intestinal tract. So, no matter how big or how little they are, be sure to keep bones (other than those that are specially sterilized and treated) away from your dog. Rawhides, Kong toys, and hardened, sterilized bones would be better alternatives.
Tobacco products can be fatal to pets, if ingested. Signs of poisoning develop within 15 to 45 minutes and include excitation, salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Pets may develop seizures, collapse and die from cardiac arrest. Keep cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, nicotine gum and patches, and ashtrays out of the reach of pets. Empty ashtrays frequently since cigarette butts contain about 25% of the total nicotine in a cigarette.
Uncooked yeast dough can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.
Grapes and raisins contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys.
Macadamia nuts contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscles of dogs.
Remember, dogs have an exceptional sense of smell – juices on plastic or aluminum foil left on countertops are very tempting. If ingested, plastic or foil wrap (cellophane candy wrappers or food wrap) can cause choking or intestinal obstruction.
Meat-soaked strings from rump roasts are also enticing. Ingestion can cause a surgical emergency called a 'linear string foreign body (http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1571&articleid=285)' in the intestines.
To be safe, put away food immediately, and pet-proof your garbage. Garbage contains all kinds of other hazards for your dog such as plastic wrap and bags, 6-pack beverage holders that could cause strangulation, fat trimmings, bones, and pieces of ribbon or tinsel.
Feed your pet(s) before a party so they will not be so apt to beg or steal food.
This is an article from Foster Smith's website...to see all the potential risks go to:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1674&articleid=932
Holly Nash, DVM, MS (http://www.peteducation.com/author.cfm?cls=2&cat=0&art=932&ath=10)
Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.
We want the holidays to be a happy time for you and your pet, not a time for an emergency visit to your veterinarian. The food and decorations that make the holidays so much fun for us can be dangerous for your pet. We do not want this article to dampen your holiday spirits, but we do want you to be aware of the dangers and plan carefully to avoid these potential hazards.
Food - Related Items Holiday foods we enjoy cooking and eating can be a problem for your pet.
Rich, fatty foods, like gravy or grease, can cause problems ranging from stomach upsets to pancreatitis (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWin1('/dictionary_term.cfm?term=pancreatitis&cls=2', 50, 50, 350, 300)), which is an inflammation (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWin1('/dictionary_term.cfm?term=inflammation&cls=2', 50, 50, 350, 300)) of the pancreas resulting in pain, vomiting, and dehydration. Dogs with this serious condition often require hospitalization for treatment.
Alcohol can cause serious intoxications in pets, and many dogs are attracted to it. Every year hundreds of dogs die after a single bout of alcohol consumption. Clean up glasses after holiday parties. Dogs are often attracted by the sweet taste of drinks, especially eggnog.
Chocolate (http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1939&articleid=2238), coffee, and tea all contain dangerous components called xanthines, which cause nervous system or urinary system damage and heart muscle stimulation. Chocolate, with theobromine, is especially a problem because dogs love its flavor. Problems from ingestion range from diarrhea to seizures and death. Unsweetened baking chocolate and dark chocolate are the worst culprits, but all chocolate, fudge, and other candy should be placed out of your dog's reach.
Uncooked meat, fish, and poultry can contain disease-causing bacteria, such as E. coli, and parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii (http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1621&articleid=771). These uncooked foods should not be given to your dog. For your own health, as well as your pet's, wash utensils that have been in contact with raw meat, and cook meat thoroughly.
Bones from fish, meat, or poultry can also cause problems if swallowed. Even small bones can splinter causing lacerations (tearing) throughout the intestinal tract. So, no matter how big or how little they are, be sure to keep bones (other than those that are specially sterilized and treated) away from your dog. Rawhides, Kong toys, and hardened, sterilized bones would be better alternatives.
Tobacco products can be fatal to pets, if ingested. Signs of poisoning develop within 15 to 45 minutes and include excitation, salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Pets may develop seizures, collapse and die from cardiac arrest. Keep cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, nicotine gum and patches, and ashtrays out of the reach of pets. Empty ashtrays frequently since cigarette butts contain about 25% of the total nicotine in a cigarette.
Uncooked yeast dough can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.
Grapes and raisins contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys.
Macadamia nuts contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscles of dogs.
Remember, dogs have an exceptional sense of smell – juices on plastic or aluminum foil left on countertops are very tempting. If ingested, plastic or foil wrap (cellophane candy wrappers or food wrap) can cause choking or intestinal obstruction.
Meat-soaked strings from rump roasts are also enticing. Ingestion can cause a surgical emergency called a 'linear string foreign body (http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1571&articleid=285)' in the intestines.
To be safe, put away food immediately, and pet-proof your garbage. Garbage contains all kinds of other hazards for your dog such as plastic wrap and bags, 6-pack beverage holders that could cause strangulation, fat trimmings, bones, and pieces of ribbon or tinsel.
Feed your pet(s) before a party so they will not be so apt to beg or steal food.
This is an article from Foster Smith's website...to see all the potential risks go to:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1674&articleid=932