Holiday Hazards
All too often the holiday round of eating, socializing and partying is interrupted by an emergency trip to the veterinarian's office.
Many well-meaning animal lovers can't resist slipping some goodies to the family pet, but those treats can be loaded with ingredients that are poison to a dog or cat.
And dogs, being creatures of habit, can be adversely affected by the irregular hours, the arrival of strangers and the disruption of routine brought on by the season.
“It's very well known that at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving you're going to have vomiting dogs and pets with other gastrointestinal problems,” said Dr. Hisham Ibrahim, the owner of the Good Shepherd Veterinary Hospital, Mars.
Ibrahim, who has been a veterinarian for 15 years and who has practiced emergency veterinary medicine for nearly six years, said the culprit is feeding pets human food such as turkey, ham and cheese.
“I don't travel because I know that we are going to see more emergency visits around the holidays,” said Ibrahim.
“Part of it is because it's getting colder and we get more dogs and cats in the house,” he said.
Ibrahim has dealt with dogs and cats that have swallowed ribbons, rubber bands and turkey bones.
“I had a dog eat a bag of chocolate once and chocolate is very poisonous to dogs,” Ibrahim said.
There are many foods that humans eat that are bad for dogs and cats.
“You've got to be careful of baking goods because yeast in raw cookie dough can cause bloat in dogs,” Ibrahim said.
Raisins and grapes can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs and cats, but they are especially dangerous to cats because of their small body size, Ibrahim, said.
Many pet lovers can't resist a begging pet during a holiday meal, but they should.“Chocolate, alcoholic drinks, xylitol sweetener, onions and garlic, grapes/raisins/currants and dairy products are a few of the less-known harmful food for pets,” said Dr. Paul Eismann of Deer Creek Animal Hospital.“Dairy products, like milk, cream and cheese, can cause digestive issues including upset stomach and diarrhea, just what we want to add to our holiday decor, right?” said Eismann. “Macadamia nuts and tobacco are also toxic to pets. Tobacco will cause seizures and death in pets.”Plain turkey in small quantities may be OK. Most pets do not tolerate spicy seasonings very well or a large quantity of food.“Any of the rich holiday favorites such as turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, yams, gravy and stuffing can be enticing to a pet but can cause stomach upset and pancreatitis,” Eismann said.And while humans gorge themselves on seasonal delicacies, their pets shouldn't.“Dogs and cats have small bodies. Giving them an ounce of turkey is like if you ate a pound or two of meat,” said Ibrahim. “It will cause problems.”“There can be vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes a dog will actually cry in pain or discomfort or go into hiding,” he added.Eismann concurred.“If you are going to give your dog or cat turkey, give them small, treat-sized portions of white meat, if possible,” he said. “Stay away from the skin, fatty parts and bones. In general, ham is not a good meat choice for pets because of the high sodium content.”And, Eismann cautioned, resist the temptation to give your dog turkey bones.“The bone can splinter and puncture the stomach or intestines. Poultry bones are particularly dangerous, as they become brittle when cooked,” he said. “It's much safer to give your dog a bone designed for pets like a rawhide or dental chew from your vet.”The holiday decorations themselves can pose a danger, starting with the Christmas tree, said Nancy Kieffer, director of training for the nonprofit Butler Dog Training Association.“The water around the tree, change it every day,” she said to avoid causing dogs and cats who may drink it gastrointestinal problems.“Cats like to climb trees, dogs like to shake it,” she added.“Poinsettias can be cause of inflammation of the oral cavity and throat if eaten.” Ibrahim said. “Various holly plants are toxic to dogs and cats.''And the holidays can cause more than physical harm to the family dog or cat. Pets may also go into hiding because of all the disruptions the holidays may bring.“Routine is very important. All dogs should be on schedule. It gives them a sense of security and confidence,” said Kieffer.During the holidays, Kieffer said, “Keep your dog on his routine as much as possible. It's a great time to get out and give them some exercise. Go play with your dog, go walk the dog outside.”“If they don't have exercise, they will create their own jobs and own exercise and that's not always according to your plans. You get a dog chewing up a couch because he hasn't had any outlets,” Kieffer warned.With out-of-town relatives staying over, children home from school, late nights and early mornings, Kieffer said, your pets might just need time and space to relax.“Exercise will help keep them stress-free and busy,” she said. “If your dog is crate-trained, they may need to be in quiet room with the TV on and a favorite toy. The TV drowns out other noises.”Ibrahim said, “We have a tryptophan treat for the dogs to let them relax, It's not to knock them out.”Holiday travel is another stressor.
“Car rides can be especially stressful for pets due to the fact that most time they are getting into the car, they end up at the vet, which usually denotes needles, strangers, and other unpleasantries,” said Eismann.“When traveling with pets during the holidays, make sure they have a safe car restraint/carrier,” he said.Eismann said, “Sometimes medication/sedation may be needed for severe cases of travel anxiety or lengthy trips. Ask your vet what they recommend for your pet.”“Don't let your dog roam free in your car. A loose dog can distract the driver or get hurt if he is not secure in a kennel,” said Eismann.“Keep your cats in carriers. Most cats do not travel well, but a carrier that is fastened with a seat belt so it doesn't move around will help him to be a little more relaxed,” said Eismann.Shanna Best, kennel director for the Butler County Humane Society, agreed.Best said, “I always have cats in a carrier, so when you stop at a rest stop, they won't get out and run loose somewhere that is not familiar to them.”Kieffer said, “If you are traveling, a lot of us take a binder full of the dog's information: rabies, license and a picture of the dog should your dog — heaven forbid — get loose and take off. You have information to start a missing dog search.”The humane society can help reunite lost cats and dogs with their owners, said Michelle Allen, society director.“In a lost pet situation, this is the go-to place,” Allen said.The moment a pet is lost, call the society and give your contact information and a pet description, Allen said.“If somebody calls in that they've lost a dog or even if they've found a dog or cat, this form can reunite the owner with his beloved pet,” she added.
