Bones and other holiday feast leftovers<\/h3>\n
During busy holiday celebrations, it\u2019s easy to let clean-up slide for a bit, but that\u2019s just what your dog, who may be an opportunistic scavenger, wants you to do. But this is one time you really need to be Mr. Grinch or Mr. Scrooge and clear leftover food from the table and counters so your pets can\u2019t indulge themselves.<\/p>\n
Many of our holiday feasts feature rich, often high-fat foods that can cause vomiting, diarrhea or potentially pancreatitis in our pets.<\/p>\n
Cooked bones from meat, poultry or fish present a particularly dangerous threat because they\u2019re brittle and more likely to splinter when chewed. If swallowed, bone splinters can become stuck in the throat, stomach or intestines. Or worse, the shards block the intestines or puncture the digestive tract, allowing contents of the intestines to leak into the abdomen. This is a painful, potentially life-threatening condition that requires surgery.<\/p>\n
Be sure to dispose of carcasses, bones and anything used to wrap or tie meat (e.g., strings, bags, packaging) in a closed trash bag inside a covered, tightly secured trash container outdoors or behind a closed, locked door.<\/p>\n
Chocolate<\/h3>\n
Chocolate and foods made with chocolate are essential to the holidays for many people but are dangerous to dogs and cats<\/a>. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, two compounds to which dogs and cats are very sensitive. Depending on the type of chocolate, the size of the pet and the amount that was eaten, chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, agitation, high heart rate, abnormal heart rhythm, muscle tremors, seizures and worse. It\u2019s best to keep any and all chocolate out of paws\u2019 reach \u2014 and within yours!<\/p>\n Holiday cookies and candies are tempting treats for us and some dogs. In an attempt to trim calories or accommodate a diabetic family member, some holiday bakers may use a sugar substitute or artificial sweetener such as stevia or xylitol or ingredients that contain them. While most sugar substitutes aren\u2019t toxic to pets, xylitol can cause life-threatening problems in dogs. Depending on the amount eaten, xylitol<\/a> can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and even sudden liver failure.<\/p>\n Most people know not to give alcoholic drinks to their pets, but that\u2019s not the only place to find alcohol during the holidays. Fruitcake that\u2019s rum-soaked or made with bourbon- or brandy-soaked candied fruits can present issues for dogs and cats, not only from alcohol but also from raisins, sultanas and currants. Most pets that get into alcoholic beverages, however, tend to find unattended alcoholic drinks. Like people, dogs that lap up alcoholic beverages can become intoxicated. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and can quickly affect pets. Signs of alcohol intoxication in dogs include dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature, along with vomiting, decreased coordination, diarrhea, disorientation, difficulty breathing, tremors and worse.<\/p>\n Grapes and raisins can be found at most holiday celebrations, as ingredients in fruit salad, trail mix and fruitcake. Yogurt- or chocolate-covered raisins as snacks or in snack mixes and grapes on appetizer platters can also mean bad news if your dog eats them. To learn more about the dangers of grapes and raisins, check out this article.<\/a><\/p>\n You may want to think twice about decking your home\u2019s halls and rooms with holly, mistletoe, amaryllis and Asiatic lilies. These beauties can be dangerous, even deadly, to cats and dogs. If your dog eats Christmas or English holly, the pretty plant with spiny leaves can cause severe gastrointestinal upset (e.g., nausea, vomiting and diarrhea) and injure your dog\u2019s mouth, causing lip smacking, drooling and excessive head shaking. Dogs that eat small amounts of mistletoe may experience vomiting, drooling, diarrhea and abdominal pain. A large amount, however, could cause a slowed heart rate, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure and odd behavior.<\/p>\n While many people don\u2019t associate showy, fragrant lilies with winter holidays, these big, beautiful blooms are actually quite common in holiday flower bouquets and arrangements. If you have a cat, you probably already know that members of the true lily family (Lilium<\/em> spp. and Hemerocallis<\/em> spp.) can be deadly. Even a small exposure can result in acute kidney injury and failure in our feline friends.<\/p>\n So, what about poinsettia and Christmas cactus? According to Pet Poison Helpline and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, the potential \u201cpoisoning\u201d of pets by poinsettias<\/a> has been greatly exaggerated; and Christmas cactus<\/a> isn\u2019t toxic to either dogs or cats. Still, it\u2019s a good idea to keep these plants away from pets. If chewed on or eaten, GI upset can occur.<\/p>\nSugar-free baked goods and treats (xylitol)<\/h3>\n
Alcohol<\/h3>\n
Grapes and raisins<\/h3>\n
Deck the halls with\u2026<\/h2>\n
Boughs of holly, mistletoe and other festive plants<\/h3>\n
Candles<\/h3>\n
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