The Unwelcome Holiday Gift, How To Keep Your Pets Safe During The Holidays:
The holidays are a fabulous time to enjoy rich, festive foods… for humans. It is tempting to offer your sweet pup or cat a taste off your holiday plate but this may lead to some unsavory results. Domesticated pets have a delicate gastrointestinal tract and new foods can easily upset their bellies. Every time we give into those cute eyes by offering a holiday snack-o we are rolling the dice of indigestion. Some dogs and cats may do just fine with safe table scraps, others may get sick from only a small amount. There is no way to tell so the best course of action is to avoid these triggers entirely by offering dog or cat treats that are safe for your pet.
How do I keep my dog or cat safe?
Keep your pet out of the kitchen while you are cooking to avoid accidental ingestions. Avoid having food in areas where your pet can reach. Keep pets confined to a safe room or crate when dangerous foods are out. Remove any garbage that contains food from the household or place in a safe top closing trash bin. Establish clear guidelines with house guests about what your pet is allowed to eat and not eat.
Please speak with your veterinarian if you have any questions regarding regular nutritional guidelines for your pet or for clarification on dangerous food items.
Foods to avoid:
Foods high in fat (ham/ casseroles/ steak)
Foods high in sugar (desserts/ cranberry sauce)
Difficult to digest foods (ham bones/ turkey bones/ corn cobs)
Raw or uncooked foods
Artificial sweetened foods
Toxic foods (chocolate, grapes, macadamia nuts)
Results:
These new foods can cause vomiting and diarrhea in pets. Excessive vomiting and/or diarrhea can lead to dehydration or inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) if not addressed appropriately. Of course, the easiest way to avoid this holiday disaster is to stick with your pets regular diet, but should your pet ingest human food it is best to have them evaluated by a veterinarian.
At home treatment:
If your pet is vomiting, you can remove their food and offer small amounts of water (1-2 tbsp) at a time. If your pet develops diarrhea you can start a bland diet at home. A bland diet consists of 1 part protein mixed with 2 parts starch. Examples of bland proteins are boiled boneless chicken breast, boiled hamburger, low fat plain cottage cheese, or low-fat plain yogurt mixed with plain rice or pasta. No salt, oils, or seasonings should be added. There are also a number of prescription foods available for purchase but require authorization from a veterinarian.
When to seek professional help:
Here at Island Pet Urgent Care we are always happy to assist you when any health problems your pet may be having despite the degree of severity. As a golden rule it is always best to have your pet evaluated if you are concerned. If you choose to monitor at home then we suggest seeking medical attention if your pet has vomited more than three times within 24 hours or has worsening diarrhea despite starting a bland diet. If your pet has any changes in their behavior, energy, restlessness, vomiting/retching without any production, or is lethargic then your pet should be evaluated as soon as possible by the nearest veterinarian.
At Island Pet Urgent Care we are able to do a diagnostic evaluation of the gastrointestinal system with digital radiology, complete comprehensive blood work, and abdominal ultrasound. We can quickly get your pet on the road to recovery by providing antiemetic injections (anti-nausea medications), probiotics, intravenous or subcutaneous fluids, and antacids. Please don't hesitate to call. Comfort can’t wait!
Additional Resources:
For a complete list of foods to avoid please check out the resources on ASPCA Animal Poison Control website.
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets
Author: Maria Van Swol, CVT, VTS-ECC
