|
October 29, 2010 With the holidays quickly approaching, it is important to be aware of the seasonal foods and plants that can cause harm to your pet.
Toxic Foods
It can be tempting to indulge your pet's appetite during the holiday season with all the delicious meals, but many holiday foods can be harmful to their health. Foods, such as poultry, and other meats that are too spicy, rich or fatty, may cause intestinal irritation, and even a serious inflammation of the pancreas or intestines. Poultry bones are also dangerous to your pet as they may splinter and send shards of sharp bone through their intestines. Chocolate seems to be more prevalent during the holidays, and whether it is found in candy, chocolate bars, cakes or cookies, it is all potentially hazardous to your pet's health. Dark and semisweet chocolate are among the most toxic and may result in vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity expressed by an accelerated heart rate, and seizures. If ingested, contact your veterinarian immediately, as treatment is most successful when detected early. Other foods to keep away from your pet include grapes, raisins and onions.
Toxic Plants
Popular holiday plants, including mistletoe, poinsettia, holly and the evergreen (Christmas) tree, may all cause gastrointestinal irritation or vomiting if ingested by your pet. Other clinical signs may involve labored breathing, skin, eye or mouth irritation, and dilated pupils. If you believe your pet may have eaten any of these decorative holiday plants, closely monitor their behavior and schedule an appointment with your veterinarian if symptoms continue.
More serious symptoms, which would require immediate veterinary attention, include labored breathing, vomiting and diarrhea. If you decorate your home with a living evergreen tree during the holiday season, discourage your pet from drinking the water at the base of the tree, as it is contaminated by sap drainage and may be toxic to your pet. In general, puppies and kittens are more common offenders in exploring toxic plants, so be mindful of their actions at all times. Additionally, discourage your kitten or cat from playing in the branches of the Christmas tree to prevent a hazardous fall. Trees decorated with tinsel can cause serious intestinal problems in pets if ingested, and beware of your dog succumbing to the temptation of urinating or "marking his territory" on your tree. Yikes!
Refer to these tips to avoid any unnecessary veterinary emergency visits during this upcoming season, and please enjoy a safe and happy holiday.
Tags: Health Matters
| |
|
|
| |
| |
Print
Email Link
Feedback
Share
Advanced Search
