Christmas Danger Zones for Your Pet

Christmas Danger Zones for the Pet You Love

DH DeForge, VMD

Each holiday season, Animal Doc AM Multi-Media shares with pet lovers the Danger Zones of Christmas.  So many are overlooked or not even considered until the emergency occurs.  If you take a moment to review this blog you will have a wonderful holiday season with the companion you love and not have to make a trip to the Animal ER for emergency care.  This blog is not a replacement for veterinary care.  If you have a question contact your local doctor of veterinary medicine, an Animal ER doctor, or Poison Control Centers for Pets in the United States.

Christmas Plants and Trees:

Pine needles from fresh Christmas trees can pose many problems if eaten.  They are a local irritant and can cause hypersalivation, vomiting, and diarrhea.  If eaten in large quantities, pine needles can lead to perforation of the intestines. Your pet can then weaken, start to tremble, and actually collapse necessitating immediate ER help and intervention.

The Poinsettia plant is not as poisonous as once thought.  Eating any part of the plant can cause irritation to the mouth or GI tract leading to vomiting and lethargy but it is not classified as a severely toxic agent to pets.

Mistletoe is far more dangerous!  It has the potential to cause cardiovascular problems.  Ingestion starts with abnormal GI signs and then can lead to respiratory embarrassment, hallucinations, collapse, and even death.  If mistletoe has been ingested by your dog and cat bring your pet to the local Animal ER immediately. Why not, just, keep this plant out of the home or look for artificial synthetic substitutes if you need it as part of your holiday decor.

Holly is not a benign plant.  Again, ingestion usually begins with the abnormal gastrointestinal signs of vomiting and/or diarrhea but can progress to weakness and physical depression necessitating veterinary intervention.

Even though Lilies are not common at Christmas as much as Easter, they do end up in delivered floral arrangements as gifts.  Some of the common Lilly Plants are Tiger; Casa Blanca; Stargazer; Japanese Snow; and Asian varieties.  A cat who just eats a small amount of any part of the Lily family of plants can go into kidney failure and die.  If you have a cat do not have any Lily Plant in your home.  If ingested or suspected of being ingested call your Animal ER immediately. 

The Wonder of the Christmas Tree and Pets:

The Christmas Tree: Presents, Decorations, Wrappings, and Gifts:

We all want our pets to have a great Christmas and wrap gifts for them.  Pets can find these gifts and can ingest the paper, bows, and ribbons trying to get to the gift that smells luscious.  This can lead to the need for an exploratory surgery if an intestinal blockage occurs.

Electric shock can occur from pets chewing on extension cords and Christmas lights and can be fatal.

Entanglements in icicle netting, garland, and decorative ropes can also lead to respiratory embarrassment and death.

Never leave decorative candles burning around pets.  Their coats can become ignited or they can initiate a whole house fire if knocked over.

Fireplaces cause multiple house fires each year.  Keep pets away from open hearth fires and be sure the fireplace screen or enclosure is pet proof.  One mistake could lead to a catastrophe.

Who doesn't wrap candy for our human family members.  Pets can find chocolate wrapped in Christmas wonder and become poisoned by the chocolate.  Never wrap chocolate and leave it under the tree if a pet is free to roam this area in your home.

Glass ornaments can cause lacerations of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines.  Tinsel and ribbon can get caught in the GI tract from an overzealous pet grooming the Christmas tree.  Batteries for toys if found or unwrapped and ingested can lead to ulcerations and even death from leakage of corrosive materials.  

Potpourris in hot pots that simmer can cause damage to a pet's mouth, skin, and eyes.  Large amounts being consumed could lead to systemic problems depending on the chemical nature of the fragrance.  Dry potpourris can lead to intestinal blockage.  Chemical irritation or toxicity from ingestion is also a possibility.  

Live Christmas tree watering stands should always be covered with aluminum foil to prevent ingestion of the water by a pet.  The water can be bacterial laden or have chemical additives that can be lethal to your pet.  If your pet has been drinking Christmas tree water and begins to vomit or have watery diarrhea call your local Animal ER immediately and let them know you need an emergency exam. 

Foods at Christmas that are Toxic to Pets 

The raisins and grapes-found in desserts and on Christmas tables are toxic to pets.  They are commonly found in pudding, mince pies, and fruit cakes.  Worst is the double edged toxin of chocolate covered raisins.  Some dogs develop renal or kidney failure after the ingestion of raisins.  Raisins and grapes should never to fed to pets.

Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats.  It contains methyxanthines.  Dark chocolate is more toxic than milk chocolate.  Both are dangerous.  You need far less dark chocolate to cause a severe toxic reaction than milk chocolate. Chocolate toxicity can lead to heart arrhythmias, seizures, and death if ingested in large quantity.  Consult your Animal ER Center or Animal Poison Control to find out if your dog has ingested a lethal dosage of chocolate.

Meat trimming [i.e. fat] eaten in large amounts can predispose a pet to pancreatitis.  Meat bones can cause lacerations of the GI tract or impactions.  No bones should be given to pets. This includes all bones: butcher raw bones, cooked bones, sterilized bones, pork, beef, and poultry bones.

Alcoholic Beverages are around at holiday time.  It is not funny to give these beverages to pets and watch them become intoxicated.  Over ingestion of alcohol in pets is just as dangerous as in humans.  Small amounts because of body size can lead to loss of consciousness and potential loss of life.  Pets should be kept away from all human holiday drinks including alcoholic punch, cocktails, beer, and wine.  Consult your local Animal ER if your pet has gotten into alcohol.

Certain nuts are toxic to pets.  Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios can cause gastroenteritis or obstruction of the food tube when they are being swallowed.  Macadamia nuts and walnuts that have been tainted by mold can actually be very toxic to pets leading to weakness, lethargy, seizures, and other neurological signs.  Keep nuts away from pets.

Food containing onions and garlic should not be fed to pets.  If ingested in large amounts these flavoring agents can cause severe anemia in pets.

According to the Pet Poison Helpline Avocados should not be given to pets because of bowel obstruction problems.

Avocado contains a toxin called persin, but despite the rumors, avocado is not poisonous to dogs, nor likely to cats. Only certain species are poisoned by persin. While dogs and cats don’t seem to be affected by persin, avocado poisoning can be deadly to birds and large animals (such as cattle). The bigger risk to dogs and cats is a foreign body obstruction, which can occur if the dog swallows the whole large, round avocado seed; due to size alone, this seed can get stuck in the esophagus, stomach or intestinal tract of dogs.

Most importantly, keep the phone number of your nearest Animal ER 24/7 Center in the phone directory or your I-Phone or Android.  Also, enter the two Pet Poisoning Consultation Centers listed below.  Seek advice immediately.  Do not wait.  The moments could be very significant in reversing a problem that could be life threatening.

Pet Poison Helpline

24/7 Animal Poison Control Center

800-213-6680

Consult Pet Poison Helpline for their  consultation fee in a suspected animal poisoning.

AND

ASPCA POISON CONTROL CENTER

For any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.

Have a very safe and Happy Christmas  and Holiday Season and keep your pets safe at all times.   The advice in this blog is not a substitute for a consultation with  your own veterinarian, an ER Veterinarian, or a Poison Control authority.  It has been written as a guide to help you  in preventing emergency problems from occurring with your pets.

Animal Doc AM Multi-Media is a production of Dr. Don DeForge

Questions: Contact Dr. Don DeForge at 1-800-838-3368 

or  E-Mail :  DoctorDeForge@yahoo.com

27Nov2013