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SIERRA VISTA — Amid the hubbub of the holidays, we sometimes forget to keep a watchful eye on our pets. Every year veterinarians treat hundreds of dogs and cats for illnesses directly related to the festive season.
There are a few precautionary steps pet owners can take to prevent potentially fatal health problems, not to mention the expense of a trip to an animal hospital. Two local animal health professionals offer the following recommendations for keeping pets healthy during the holidays.
“Much like humans, our pets can lose their self control and overindulge during the holidays,” says Veterinarian Jody Moffett of Sierra Animal Hospital. “Chocolate is the biggest culprit. In fact, we’ve already seen several cases of dogs eating entire bags of chocolate, wrapping and all.”
Moffett says that, generally speaking, the darker the chocolate and smaller the dog, the bigger the problem. Chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and comas. In cases where dogs have severe vomiting and diarrhea, treatment often requires hospitalization and intravenous fluids.
 Santa Claus holds two kittens, Prince Eric, left, and Diego, right, at the Mall of Sierra Vista last month. (Beatrice Richardson-Herald/Review) |
Elisabeth Ditzler, a certified veterinary technician who works for Cochise Animal Hospital in Bisbee, says she saw all kinds of holiday-related health problems while working for an emergency animal clinic in Scottsdale.
“Watch out for macadamia nuts,” Ditzler advises. “If dogs get into macadamia nuts, it can cause a temporary paralysis of their rear legs. It typically lasts between 12 and 24 hours, but we saw cases that went as long as 48 hours.”
Tinsel may add a lot of sparkle to Christmas trees, but it’s not advisable in homes with cats. Intrigued by tinsel’s sparkle and movement, a playful feline will go after it, batting it around and grabbing the sparkly strand in its mouth. What starts out as a playful game can lead to a lethal mishap.
“The tinsel can get wrapped around a cat’s rough tongue, and if swallowed, can cause a serious problem by becoming tied up in the cat’s intestinal tract,” Ditzler says. “When that happens, it often needs to be removed surgically.”
Along with tinsel, Moffett extends similar warnings when it comes to ribbon. It’s a good idea to keep wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, string and scissors away from pets.
“Holiday plants such as mistletoe and lilies are very toxic if chewed or eaten,” Moffett warns. According to the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, azalea, rhododendron, amaryllis, Christmas berry, holly and Jerusalem cherry pose serious health risks to both pets and children if ingested.
Antifreeze is another toxin that kills dogs and cats every year. “Antifreeze that is spilled or leaks from your car is a deadly poison,” Moffett says. “Just a couple of licks can cause death.”
Antifreeze has an inviting aroma and sweet taste. “Dogs and cats like the way it tastes, and that can get them into serious trouble,” says Ditzler, adding that the best prevention is to discard excess antifreeze and never leave open containers sitting around. Watch for leaks or pooling and get the spills cleaned up immediately so animals don’t walk through it, and then ingest it by licking their feet.
Avoid feeding human food to pets. Turkey, gravy, fat and grease are popular treats, but are way too rich for pets and can lead to serious illnesses. In addition, ask well-meaning dinner guests not to feed family pets. “Rich food can lead to inflammation of the pancreas, which makes the dog terribly sick,” Ditzler cautions, adding the following recommendation. “When I’m having friends over for dinner, I crate my dogs and confine them to a different area of the house.”
Edible gifts that are wrapped and placed under the Christmas tree are a big temptation for dogs. “They have an amazing sense of smell and will dig right in,” says Ditzler. “It’s best to keep those gifts up high where they can’t get to them.”
Families with live Christmas trees need to make sure pets aren’t drinking the tree water if preservatives have been added. “Some of the preservatives that are sent home with the tree can be toxic to pets,” Ditzler warns.
Potpourri is another common household item that isn’t entirely safe for pets, Moffett says, offering the following advise. “Some pets may drink the liquid thinking it smells sweet and then suffer from severe chemical burns in their mouth and esophagus. If you have any concern that your pet may have ingested something toxic, call your vet or poison control.”
The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is free and confidential. For information, call (800) 222-1222.
