Holiday Food Hazards

​The holiday season is a time of indulgence for everyone - desserts, chocolate, candy, turkey - I could go on and on! We may be tempted to share our special treats with our pets, especially with their doggy eyes and cute meows, but our food can contain ingredients that are harmful to our furry counterparts.
 

• Chocolate contains fat, caffeine and theobromine. These components can cause diarrhea, vomiting, hyperactivity, heart arrhythmias, tremors, seizures and even death.
• Certain nuts, such as almonds, non-moldy walnuts and pistachios, can cause stomach upset and cause blockages in the throat and/or intestinal tract. Macadamia nuts and moldy walnuts can cause seizures or neurological symptoms due to toxicity. Animals may also become lethargic, vomit and loose muscle control after eating nuts.
• Grapes and raisins can cause severe gastrointestinal upset or renal (kidney) failure.
• Onions and garlic can cause a pet's red blood cells to become damaged to the point of destruction.
• Xylitol is an ingredient in many sugar substitutes, and it can be found in gum, mints, candy, and baked goods. Even a small amount can cause dangerously low blood sugar, resulting in seizures or death, and can also cause liver damage.
• Uncooked yeast dough can expand and release alcohol components into your pet's stomach from their body heat. For your pet, this could lead to abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, disorientation and depression. The release of ethanol can result in alcohol poisoning for your pet - this goes for the alcohol we drink as well, which can result in death.
• You may be tempted to give your pets bones from your meal, such as chicken or turkey, but they can splinter and form sharp points. This could result in the bones getting stuck in the gastrointestinal tract and causing dangerous bleeding and/or blockages. They can also become stuck in the throat, gums or roof of the mouth, causing your pet pain and distress.
• Pets love scraps rich in fat, such as gravy and poultry skin, but they can cause severe indigestion, diarrhea or a condition called pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is very painful and can become fatal if not treated.
  
  

To avoid any of these hazards, ask any visitors to your home to not give your pet any special treats or table scraps. Also, keep items away from the end of the table or counter tops to avoid any counter surfing and keep trash secured and away from your pet. Just in case an accident happens, and your pet manages to ingest these items, keep the number of your veterinarian and the closest emergency veterinary clinic close by and find out your veterinarian's holiday hours.
 
From all of us at SAH, we wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday!