Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital Newsletters
Newsletter for December 2003
Hello friends,
HOLIDAY TIPS
While you are busy making your festive holiday plans, please don't forget to
include your pets. The holidays are a time for giving, but there are some things
you should not share with your little best friends. Once you know the hazards, a
little precaution and prevention will make holidays a happy time for everyone.
Some of the more common holiday hazards include: Bones: The holiday turkey or
chicken will leave a lot of tantalizing bones, but don't feed them to your pet.
Beware of steak bones, too. Small bones or bone chips can lodge in the throat,
stomach, and intestinal tract.
Fat:
Those wonderful gravies and poultry skin can cause severe gastrointestinal upset
as well.
Holiday plants:
Holly and mistletoe are extremely poisonous when eaten. The lovely poinsettia
may not be truly poisonous, but its milky white sap and leaves can certainly
cause severe gastric distress. With so many hybrid varieties available each
year, the best approach is to keep the plants out of your pet's reach.
Electrical cords:
Holiday lights mean more electrical cords for kittens and puppies to chew. Be
sure you have cords secured and out of the way.
Candles:
Lighted candles should never be left unattended and that is even more important
if left at kitty's eye level or within puppy's chewing zone. An exuberant tail,
a swat of a paw, and candles and hot wax can quickly become disastrous. Anchor
candles securely and away from curious faces and feet.
Pine needles:
Check around holiday trees and boughs frequently. Ingested pine needles can
puncture your pet's intestines if sharp enough.
Holiday tree:
Make sure your tree is well secured. If you have a tree-climbing cat or large
dog with a happy tail, anchor the top of the tree to the wall, using strong cord
or rope. Preservatives often used in the water in a tree stand can cause gastric
upsets, so be sure it is inaccessible or not used. Avoid sugar and aspirin
additives in the water as well.
Ornaments:
Sharp or breakable ornaments, and even aluminum foil should be kept out of
reach. String objects, especially tinsel and ribbons, are to be safeguarded at
all costs. They are thin and sharp and can wrap around intestines or ball up in
the stomach.
Stress and company:
With everyone coming and going, watch out for open doors and sneaky pets. Make
sure your pets have collars and tags on in case of escape. Ask guests to keep an
eye out for pets under foot and remind them that sometimes your normally
friendly dog or cat may be less than willing to deal with enthusiastic children
and rooms full of unfamiliar people. Provide a special quiet place with a
blanket and fresh water for your pets to retreat to when the festivities get too
stressful.
*Did you know that some caged birds are afraid of the dark? Try a night light or
leaving the front of the cage uncovered.
*Before traveling with your pets, make sure they have all required vaccinations
and health papers. If they are on medications, have enough to last
through the trip.
*When traveling by air, be aware of airline restrictions regarding outside
temperature and number of animals allowed per flight. Someone may have already
booked a pet, and there are no more allowed. Check with the airline reservations
or travel agent.
*Remember that even the most gentle and trusting pet may bite when in pain. If
you must muzzle, use a soft towel or cloth strips and remove it as soon as
possible so the pet can breathe more easily.
*Beef-flavored toothpaste? Sounds bad, but it's just one of a number of
specially formulated pastes for pets. Never use human toothpaste: it irritates a
pet's stomach.
*Keep your pet on its normal diet. Any change of diet, even for one meal, may
give your dog or cat severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true
for older animals that have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional
requirements. Boiled or grilled meats and fresh vegetables can be offered as a
healthy alternative.
*Don't give pets holiday leftovers and keep pets out of the garbage. Poultry
bones can splinter and cause blockages. Greasy, spicy and fatty for spoiled
foods can cause stomach upset and moldy foods could cause tremors or seizures.
*Keep aluminum foil and cellophane candy wrappers away from pets. They can cause
vomiting and intestinal blockage.
*Be careful with holiday floral arrangements. Lilies are commonly used and many
varieties including Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Stargazer and Casa Blanca can
cause kidney failure in cats. Safe alternatives can include artificial flowers
made from silk or plastic.
*Common Yuletide plants such as mistletoe and holly berries can be toxic to
pets. Should a cat or dog eat mistletoe, they could suffer gastrointestinal
upset and cardiovascular problems. Holly can cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea
and lethargy if ingested.
*Poinsettias are over rated in toxicity. They are considered to be very low in
toxicity, however, they could cause mild vomiting or nausea if ingested by your
pet.
*Christmas tree water may contain dangerous fertilizers, which if ingested, can
cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can also act as a breeding ground for
bacteria and if ingested a pet could end up with nausea and diarrhea.
*Decorate your tree with animal safe ornaments such as dried non-toxic flowers,
wood, fabric or pinecones. If ingested, ribbons or tinsel can become lodged in
the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction. This is a very common problem
with kittens.
HOLIDAY FOODS & BEVERAGES
THAT ARE TOXIC TO PETS
Alcoholic Beverages:
Alcoholic beverages can cause alcohol poisoning. If ingested, the animal could
become very drunk and weak, may become severely depressed or may go into a coma.
Yeast Dough:
Uncooked yeast dough, if ingested (most cases are with dogs) can rise in the
stomach and cause severe pain. Pets who have eaten bread dough may experience
abdominal pain, bloat, vomiting, disorientation and depression. Since the
breakdown product of rising dough is alcohol, it can cause an alcohol poisoning.
Many cases like this require surgical removal of the dough. Even small amounts
can be dangerous.
Chocolate (bakers, semi sweet, milk
and dark): If ingested, chocolate
can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity and increased thirst,
urination and heart rate. This can be seen with the ingestion of as little as
1/4 ounce of baking chocolate by a 10-pound dog. Chocolate poisoning does not
seem to be a problem in cats, although it is possible if enough would be
ingested.
Nicotine:
Tobacco products can be fatal to dogs and cats if ingested. Signs of nicotine
poisonings often develop within 15- 45 minutes. Symptoms include excitation,
salivation, panting, vomiting and diarrhea. Muscle weakness, twitching,
depression, coma, increased heart rate and cardiac arrest can follow.
Coffee (ground, beans, chocolate
covered espresso beans): Contain
caffeine which is a stimulant and depending on the dose ingested, stimulation,
restlessness, increased heart rate, tremors, or seizures could be seen.
Macadamia Nuts:
Macadamia nuts can cause muscular weakness, depression, vomiting,
disorientation, tremors, abdominal pain and muscle stiffness in dogs. The
effects can last 1-3 days. This has not been reported in any other species.
Grapes and Raisins:
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is aware of recent reports of dogs
alleged to have developed kidney failure following ingestion of large amounts of
grapes or raisins. There has also been one case of renal failure occurring in a
cat who ate raisins. Veterinary toxicologists at the APCC are currently
investigating these cases in an attempt to determine the causative agents or
disease processes. At this time the exact role of grapes or raisins in these
cases is unclear.
Happy Holidays,
Dr. Pennington
priestlake@mindspring.com
http://www.priestlakevet.com
615-361-4646