"Good evening, Emergency Vet, what's your emergency?"

 A call from a friend about a dog eating a several pieces of fudge prompted me to write this post.

Last year, Christmas evening I sat in the emergency vet waiting room with a dog that had a twisted stomach. I couldn't believe how busy it was! I asked one of the techs why and she stated that it's always this busy on and around Christmas. Why? There's so many things lying around for pets to get into. She went on to name them off....plants (poinsettia's), tinsel, garland, ornaments, bows, wrapping and tissue paper, ribbon, chocolates of all sorts, small toys, and even family member's that are staying can tend to leave their own prescriptions around.

And let's talk about Grampy that loves to give the ol pooch all those table scraps! High-fat foods can upset your pet's stomach. The following foods are commonly found around many homes during the holidays, and can be especially hazardous to your pet:

Bones: Small bones or bone chips can lodge in their throat, stomach, and intestinal track. Beware of steak bones, and ham bones, too. *Raw bones are ok*

Onion and garlic: These contain sulfides, which can cause the destruction of red blood cells, and are toxic to animals. Foods spiced with onion and/or garlic should not be given to pets.

Raisins: But, they could pose a choking hazard, so keep them out of reach. Raisins are particularly problematic for cats.

Chocolate: It can be toxic, or even fatal, to dogs and cats. The amount of toxicity depends on the amount of a substance called theobromine (also known as xantheose, a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant) in the chocolate and comparable to the size of the animal. Unsweetened cocoa or bakers chocolate is usually the most toxic. Milk chocolate being the least and the amount found in white chocolate or chocolate flavored dog treats is usually negligible. Chocolate poisoning requires emergency medical treatment.

Clinical Sx's of chocolate toxicity include:
Hyper excitability
Hyper irritability
Increased heart rate
Restlessness
Increased urination
Muscle tremors
Vomiting
Diarrhea

Keep your pet tired and balanced with tons of added exercise during the holidays. And when everyone is opening presents, eating dinner or napping, keep them busy with some kibble stuffed bones (see my previous post on how this is done, it's brilliant and the pups love it!)

Merry Christmas from BirdSniffer's Pet Service!