By Dr. Scotty Gibbs
The holiday season is one of celebration, with good friends, good food, and good cheer! But nothing can spoil a good time like an unexpected trip to the veterinary hospital. Take this information to heart, and hopefully you can avoid an emergency and keep the holiday season from becoming not-so-merry for you and your pet.
Be Prepared
Familiarize yourself with local veterinary hospitals that offer emergency care near you. Your regular veterinarian can assist in offering a recommendation, but take time now — before there’s an emergency — to develop a plan so you’re not trying to figure it out when you’re anxious and stressed. It’s always a good idea to keep important numbers in an easy-to-find location just in case. The following are facilities offering after-hours emergency care in close proximity to our community.
Peak Paws Advanced Veterinary Hospital, 791 Haybeck Lane, Apex: 919-605-6300
Triangle Veterinary Referral Hospital, 2120 Werrington Drive, Holly Springs: 919-973-5620
Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG), 2030 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary: 984-345-3033
BluePearl Pet Hospital, 6405-100 Tryon Road, Cary: 919-233-4911
NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Emergency Services and Critical Care, 1052 William Moore Drive, Raleigh: 919-513-6911
The ASPCA Poison Control Hotline: 1-888-426-4435 (fees may apply). The hotline can offer guidance in the event your pet has consumed a potentially toxic substance.
Food Hazards
Before you give in to those gorgeous, pleading eyes and feed your pet that sugar cookie, or if you discover they’ve gotten into the leftover Halloween candy, be aware of the potentially harmful and even deadly consequences of “people food.” Sweet, fatty, and spicy foods that we commonly eat during the holidays are not intended for pets. If you have these foods around your home, make sure they are securely put away and out of reach to avoid a potential toxic emergency. If you want to share holiday treats with your pets, make or buy treats formulated just for them.
Here’s a list of food items that are of particular concern during the holidays:
Chocolate – An essential part of the holidays for many people, chocolate can be very dangerous to dogs and cats when consumed. Baking chocolate in particular is of great concern. Toxicity can vary based on the type of chocolate, the size of your pet, and the amount they eat. In general, consider this substance off-limits for pets.
Xylitol – This artificial sweetener is found in many baked goods, chewing gum, and other sweets. Not only are sweet treats generally too rich for pets, but xylitol has also been linked to liver failure and death in dogs.
Onions – Found in abundance in turkey stuffing, onions are toxic and can destroy a dog’s red blood cells, leading to anemia. Foods that contain a large amount of onion powder should also be avoided.
Grapes and raisins – They’re yummy and fun to eat, but detrimental to pets. The toxins in grapes can cause kidney failure.
Bones – Any kind of bone can tear or obstruct your pet’s intestinal tract. Make sure all bones are disposed of properly. Poultry (chicken and turkey) bones can be especially dangerous to pets because they become brittle when cooked, making them splinter easily when chewed.
Coffee – Coffee grounds and whole beans are dangerously toxic due to their high caffeine content, and dogs and cats are more sensitive to caffeine than we are. Caffeine is a stimulant that can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure, seizures, gastrointestinal upset, and liver and kidney damage.
Alcohol – Alcoholic beverages should be kept away from pets. Dogs absorb alcohol quickly into their bloodstream and lack the ability to metabolize it. So even a small amount can cause rapid toxicity leading to depression of the central nervous system, organ damage, and respiratory distress.
Yeast dough – Dough rises, so it can cause problems in a pet’s stomach and gastrointestinal tract. Reactions are usually limited to gas and flatulence, but consumed in large quantities, dough can cause potentially life-threatening bloat.
Table Scraps – Rich, fatty food, such as turkey skins or gravy, can cause stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea. Overindulgence can lead to a condition called pancreatitis, an inflammatory condition of the pancreas, a digestive gland, which can be very painful and serious, frequently requiring hospitalization. And watch out for the string that ties up the turkey or roast, as well as those little red “pop-up” thermometers. Dogs and cats think these items are tasty. They can be associated with intestinal blockage and/or rupture.
Clear the food from the table, counters, and serving areas after your meal — and put the trash where your pet can’t reach it. A turkey or chicken carcass or other large quantities of meat sitting out on the table, or left in a trash container that is easily opened, could be deadly to your family pet. Dispose of carcasses and bones and anything used to wrap or tie the meat (strings, bags, packaging, etc.) – in a covered, tightly secured trash bag placed in a closed trash container outdoors (or behind a closed door).
Quick action saves lives. If you believe your pet has been poisoned or eaten something it shouldn’t have, call your veterinarian or local emergency veterinary clinic immediately. Signs of pet distress include: sudden changes in behavior, lethargy, pain, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Decorating Hazards
Decorations make the holidays festive and can be a part of the best holiday traditions, but they also pose risky temptations for our pets. Be aware of and consider these tips.
Christmas tree – If you have a Christmas tree, keep in mind that dogs and cats can be drawn to the exhilarating outdoor smells that the tree brings inside. Make sure it’s secure in the stand so pets don’t accidentally push it over when they can’t overcome the temptation to play with the lights and ornaments.
Water and additives – Do not add aspirin, sugar, or anything to the water of your tree if you have pets in the house. Also, consider the fact that stagnant Christmas tree water can harbor bacteria, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea if ingested.
Tree needles – If you have a live tree, it’s advised to clean up the needles frequently. They can be toxic when eaten by your pet. It may be easier to keep your tree and your pets separate, perhaps in a room where the animals cannot enter. Or put up a baby gate.
Ornaments – Hang breakable, glass ornaments well out of reach. Broken ornaments can cause injury, and ingested pieces can cause intestinal blockage or even toxicity. Keep handmade ornaments, particularly those made from salt-dough or other food–based materials, out of reach of pets.
Tinsel and ribbon – Cats are especially intrigued by sparkling tinsel and all sorts of ribbon. If consumed, tinsel and ribbon can cause intestinal blockage, frequently requiring surgery for correction. Put tinsel, ribbon, and other wrappings in the trash where pets can’t reach them.
String lights – They’re beautiful, but they can cause electrical/thermal burns, shock, or electrocution when pets chew on the cords. Keep the lights and extension cords safely secured or covered to deter chewing. Better yet, consider investing in pet-proof extension cords or spraying with products such as Bitter Apple or Chew Stop.
Flowers and plants – Although they add a warm and festive touch, certain holiday flowers and plants can result in an emergency veterinary visit if your pet decides they look tasty. Amaryllis, mistletoe, balsam, pine, cedar, and holly are among the common holiday plants that can be dangerous and even poisonous to pets. Poinsettias and lilies can be particularly troublesome. Keep the potentially dangerous bloomers well out of reach of pets.
Candles and potpourris – New and delicious scents are attractive to inquisitive pets as well as people. Never leave a pet alone in an area with a lit candle; it could result in a fire if knocked over by an exuberant pet. Candle fumes can also be harmful to birds. Liquid potpourris and sachets pose a risk because they contain essential oils and cationic detergents, which can cause severe damage to your pet’s mouth, eyes, and skin. Solid potpourris could cause harm if ingested.
Party or Large Gathering Hazards
Holidays can bring stress to all of us, and pets are no exception. When routines are disrupted and new activities occur, your pet may be the first to notice. Visitors can upset pets, as can the noise and excitement of larger gatherings. Even pets that aren’t normally shy may become very nervous in the hustle and bustle that accompanies a holiday party.
Follow these tips to make holiday events more relaxing for everyone, including your companion animals.
• All pets should have access to a safe retreat. Provide them with a comfortable, quiet, safe, escape-proof room inside where they know you’re nearby but can get away from the energy and excitement. Remember to provide plenty of food and water, and let your pet be alone to relax.
• Watch the exits. Even if your pets are comfortable around guests, make sure you watch them closely, especially when people are entering or leaving your home. While you’re welcoming hungry guests and collecting coats, a four-legged family member may make a break for it through an open door and become lost.
• Identification tags and microchips reunite families. Make sure your pets always wear current identification tags with up-to-date contact information. Consider having your pets microchipped if you haven’t already.
• Inform your guests ahead of time that you have pets, or if you’re expecting visitors’ pets to be in the house during the gathering. Guests with allergies or compromised immune systems (due to pregnancy, disease, or medications/treatments that suppress the immune system) need to be aware of the pets (especially exotic pets) in your home so they can take any needed precautions to protect themselves.
• If guests ask to bring their own pets and you don’t know how theirs will get along with yours, either politely decline their request or plan to spend some time acclimating the pets to each other, supervising their interactions, monitoring for signs of a problem, and taking action to avoid injuries to pets or people.
• Consider placing a cute, festive note on the food table to remind guests not to share holiday treats with pets. Drinking cups (especially those filled with alcohol) and plates should be kept out of reach of your pets.
• After the party, quickly get rid of plates, cups, and utensils left sitting in places within easy reach of a hungry dog or cat. Here’s a helpful tip: Give your pets an early dinner before guests arrive and the party starts, so they are less tempted to beg for and steal food.
Dr. Gibbs is the veterinarian at Hilltop Animal Hospital in Fuquay-Varina. Dr. Gibbs purchased Hilltop Animal Hospital in 2011, and is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
