During Christmas, there are many new items which can cause
problems to curious cats and dogs. Some of these items include
decorated trees with ornaments, lights, gifts with ribbon, and bows.
Be careful of holiday items that can cause “foreign bodies” of the
gastrointestinal tract if swallowed. They don’t have to be large
items. Tinsel, bells, and ribbon can all make a cat very sick.
Some animals are more attracted to the tasty treats that
accompany the holidays. Chocolate is always of great concern. There
are many factors to consider when determining whether chocolate will
become toxic. Most important is the size of the animal, amount of chocolate ingested, kind
(white versus dark), and underlying medical problems such as
heart or seizure conditions. Clinical signs of chocolate toxicity can include
vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures, and in some cases death.
Other tasty treats to be avoided are macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins,
and anything containing caffeine.
Certain holiday plants that should be avoided include holly,
ivy, and the poinsettia plant. These are not life threatening but can
cause mild to moderate nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Lilies of any
kind should not be in the same house with cats. This is an extremely
deadly plant and only a small amount of ingested leaves or flowers
can cause kidney failure.
Candles can also be a big problem for animals. We have seen cats
singe their whiskers or tails. Any pet can accidentally knock over
candles and burn themselves or perhaps cause a fire. Pets should
always be supervised around candles or open flames.
NEW YEAR’S
Did you know that alcohol can be dangerous to your cat or dog?
Alcohol affects animals the same way it affects people. If you are
having a holiday party, you may not be aware that your dog is
sneaking drinks. It does not take much alcohol to induce clinical
signs in small dogs. Dogs tend to like sweet drinks (cats do not have
taste buds for sweets). They may become nauseated, uncoordinated, or
have severe respiratory depression. Medical attention should be
sought immediately.
Also, some animals may not be comfortable with big holiday parties
and may become stressed or frightened in noisy or crowded situations.
Respect your animal’s personality by confining them to a quieter
room.
Once again, be careful of things that could be ingested such as
holiday treats or decorations. Linear foreign bodies (string,
elastic, rubber bands, cloth, etc.) can cause significant intestinal
problems.
CHRISTMAS