Does your dog like to visit you at the table and beg for whatever it is you’re having? It may be bad manners, but slipping your pet a high-fat morsel (think turkey with the skin on, smothered in gravy), could also make your dog sick.
No fat, no chocolate
“Fat is the number one thing that gets dogs in trouble with their GI tract,” says retired veterinarian Tom Netland from Cumberland Animal Clinic. “We see very serious stuff from high-fat meals. Pancreatitis, which can be fatal, and colitis.”
Chocolate poisoning is another thing Dr. Tom sees during the holidays, even though all dog owners know that chocolate can be deadly.
We see a lot of chocolate toxicity because there’s lots of candy around during the holidays. We’ve had a number of cases where candy was wrapped and under a tree or delivered and dogs could smell it and they tore into it and got chocolate toxicity. We don’t see it much in cats because cats are sort of fastidious about what they eat. Even if a cat has a big box of chocolates in front of them, they usually wouldn’t eat it. Dogs would eat the whole thing!
More holiday food tips
- Watch out for any string that gets cooked with the roast or the turkey. It could tie up your pet’s insides.
- The little pop-up thermometer that often comes with the turkey might taste really good to your pet. It could do some damage to the intestines.
- Onions are toxic to dogs
- No spicy foods
- No cooked bones
- Do I need to include this? No alcohol!
- No fatty meats
- No chocolate
See more foods on this list from ASPCA. You can also call its Animal Poison Control Center if you’re concerned about something: (888) 426-4435.
What about decorations and gifts?
I remember a Christmas many years ago when my dog knocked over the tree with one swoop of his tail. He was really happy to see me! There were also years when we had to anchor the tree to the wall with wire because of a rambunctious cat.
- If you have a Christmas tree, make sure it’s anchored securely.
- Use a tight-fitting tree skirt so your pet doesn’t have easy access to the tree water. It may be harmful to drink. If you add chemicals to the water to keep it fresh longer, make sure that it’s safe for pets.
- Hang ornaments out of reach so they don’t come crashing down with a tail wag or a paw swipe.
- Same with lights. Don’t put them on the lower branches. You don’t want them gnawing or tugging on the cords. To be on the safe side, check any cords for bite marks.
- Clean up fallen pine needles. If they get eaten, they can cause an upset stomach.
- Forget about tinsel. Cats love to play with it, but if they eat it, they can be in serious trouble. “It can get stuck in their intestine,” warns Dr. Tom, “and cause what’s known as a string foreign body. It’s often a very serious situation and needs surgery.”
- Snow globes sometimes contain antifreeze. If one breaks and your pet‚ especially a small dog, puppy, or cat, licks the liquid, get them to the closest emergency veterinary hospital as quickly as possible.
- Scented candles might smell good to your pets. Be careful they don’t knock them over. Also, the fumes can be harmful to birds.
- If you like to use liquid potpourri and sachets, they can irritate an animal’s skin. If they eat one, it could make them sick, even kill them.
Poisonous plants
Dr. Tom says he doesn’t see a lot of poisonous plant cases during the holidays (knock on wood.) To be on the safe side, here are some plants you need to keep away from your pets.
- While poinsettias are not deadly, they can cause terrible vomiting and diarrhea.
- Mistletoe, especially the berries, can upset your pet’s stomach. It can also cause fatal heart problems.
- Holly can cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and lethargy.
Happy New Year!
If you’re going to be celebrating New Year’s Eve at home, remember that loud noises and lots of raucous strangers can cause stress for your pets. And when the party is over, don’t forget to clean up any confetti. That can taste good to them too, and if they decide to eat some, it won’t be a great way to begin the new year.
Whatever and however you celebrate — Happy Holidays to you and your pets!
My perilous pet stories
Here are some pictures of my beloved pets. We nearly lost Charlotte several years ago, when she swallowed some course thread and one end got caught on her tongue. Thankfully, the veterinarian spotted it way in the back of her throat. It had to be removed surgically because the rest of it had traveled down into her intestines. Take a minute to read the blog post I wrote about the experience. I am now fanatical about thread, ribbons, elastic bands, cords, strings shoelaces. Anything I think could get her in trouble.
These two innocent looking darlings, Zuzu and Daisy, like to chew cords. My husband concocted a nasty hot sauce that he dips some cords into (I’m not convinced it works), and also bought some protectors that you slip over vulnerable cords. That was after we discovered my laptop had not come to the end of its useful life, the charge cord had because of all tiny gashes made by sharp kitty teeth. Chewing cords can also be life-threatening to the cat so it’s important to be vigilant all-year long, not just over the holidays.
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