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This time of the year is full of joy and celebration for people, with parties, decorations, and vistors galore. Unfortunately the very things that make us happiest during the holiday season can also bring sadness as the pets end up partaking of things that they really shouldn’t.
Many people are aware of the common dangers with decorations and such things, though much has been a bit overblown and almost fallen into “old wives’ tale” categories. Tinsel and ribbons are certainly a danger, especially for cats, as they can cause life-threatening strictures of the intestinal tract. Poinsettias really aren’t very dangerous. In fact, your pet would have to eat a full plant or more in order to become seriously ill, so a few nibbles on a leaf aren’t going to be toxic. You also have to worry about low-lying candles being hit by wagging or swishing tails and knocking flames to the ground or even catching fur on fire. But one of the biggest concerns I have is one that is usually overlooked by most people.
In almost any holiday we can count on one constant factor, whether it’s Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or many others. Food! We love to eat when we have get-togethers, and when that dog looks up at us with the deep brown eyes it can be very difficult to resist sharing. Even if you don’t give in to the puppy pleading or insistent kitty meows, pets are notoriously good scavengers and can make quick work of food left on counters or short tables. But instead of this activity being cute, it can instead be very dangerous. And since there is so much baking going on for so many weeks in December, the risk is often greater than even the traditionally food-heavy holiday of Thanksgiving.
Most pets will manage to get through such “dietary indiscretion” with a midly upset stomach or diarrhea. But who wants to clean up such messes from the carpet? A greater worry is pancreatitis. This disease is a severe inflammation of the pancreas, an organ which among other tasks produces key digestive enzymes. Pancreatitis can cause vomiting and a decrease in appetite on the mild side, but has the potential to even be fatal. Very rich, fatty, or rancid foods are the biggest culprits, especially when eaten by breeds that are especially prone such disorders (schnauzers being one of the most susceptible). I have seen a shih-tzu die from eating a plate of stir-fry and seen a cocker spaniel almost die from eating a couple of hot dogs that had been in the trash. Even the cases that survive often need hospitalization and extensive treatment.
The other big food-related risk is one more people are aware of, and with all of the cookie and desert baking that goes on close to Christmas it is even more of a concern. Chocolate is potentially toxic, but there are a number of factors that need to be considered. First, the type of chocolate makes a big difference. The active ingredient, theobromine, is not present in white chocolate, is found in small amounts in milk chocolate, and then in increasing concentrations in dark and unsweetened chocolates (therefore the kind often used in baking is potentially the most dangerous). The other consideration is the pet’s size, as the toxicity is dose-dependent. The larger the pet, the less potential for toxicity. For example, a poodle eating a Hershey’s Kiss may have some mild but not dangerous signs (and likely won’t have anything noticable), but eating a part of a bag of baker’s chocolate could be potentially fatal. A Labrador retriever wouldn’t be phased eating an entire candy bar, and would likely have less noticable signs with a bag of dark chocolate.
The bottom line is that you should never give your pets human food and should be very aware of where they are during gatherings with lots of food around. Visitors may not know your rules against such treats, and your dog isn’t going to say “No, really, don’t leave that plate of cookies and nachos on the coffee table.” All of these food-related disorders are highly preventable, and avoiding such temptations can make the holidays much happier for everyone in the family.
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