(The conversation) During the holidays, it is typical for people to indulge in special foods. Being a pet owner myself, I know that many pet owners also want to give their fur babies special treats.
As a veterinarian and veterinary clinical researcherhowever, I also know that some very common foods – including many popular holiday staples – are dangerous for pets.
Here are some of the most common food crises vets encounter at animal emergencies during the holidays, and what to do if they do occur.
Fatty Food Risks
Turkey with gravy is probably one of the most popular holiday meals. And most dogs or cats would definitely agree with their humans that roast turkey is delicious.
However, the fat in turkey skin — and the excess oily, greasy foods that can come with it, like gravy, butter, and bacon — aren’t appealing to cats and dogs. Animals that ingest excess fat may develop pancreatitisinflammation of the pancreas, the organ that helps break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
Pancreatitis causes digestive enzymes to leak from the pancreas and eventually “digests” itself. If left untreated, pancreatitis can affect other organ systems such as the kidneys and liver and even cause blood to clot.
The most common symptoms of pancreatitis include vomiting and diarrhea. Pets suspected of having pancreatitis should be rushed to the nearest veterinary hospital or emergency room. The vet will perform diagnostic blood tests, including a specific test for pancreatic enzymes called pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity or cPLI/fPLI.
The treatment of pancreatitis mainly consists of treating its symptoms. The animal is given IV fluids to help establish electrolyte balance, with anti-nausea and painkillers added to stop vomiting. Antibiotics may be needed, as well as liver protectants and probiotics, and a special diet.
Onion Offenses and Bread Wickedness
If only the turkey was the only problem! Many other common holiday ingredients can also harm pets.
Several allium species common in holiday cooking, such as leeks, garlic, onions, chives and shallots, can be healthy for people. For dogs and cats, however, alliums are poisonous. If ingested, they can cause hemolytic anemia – a decrease in the number of red blood cells.
Signs of hemolytic anemia, which usually appear a few days after ingestion, include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and jaundice.
To treat hemolytic anemia in pets, veterinarians do blood tests to determine if a transfusion is needed. They treating the symptoms of allium poisoning Along with IV fluids, antioxidants and anti-nausea medications.
Yeast-leavened foods like rolls and breads are also holiday dinner staples that people should stay away from their pets. The yeast in these foods can ferment in an animal’s warm stomach and produce toxic levels of ethanol. In pets, ethanol toxicity can lead to metabolic acidosis, which can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, respiratory depression, seizures, and cardiac arrest.
Normally, pet owners don’t suspect metabolic acidosis until it’s almost too late because it has few outward symptoms. So if it’s possible that an animal has swallowed any type of cooked or raw yeast dough, take it to a veterinarian immediately.
By the way, pets can also experience ethanol toxicity sipping cocktails or beerso also keep alcoholic beverages out of their reach.
No chocolate for animals
Now, what about your favorite holiday treat – chocolate?
Substances that may attract humans to chocolate – methylxanthines such as theobromine and caffeine – are toxic to dogs and cats. When veterinarians provide emergency treatment for chocolate ingestion, we typically hear of children sharing their candy with their beloved pet.
Animals that eat chocolate may develop “chocolate poisoning”.a condition in which methylxanthines build up in the body and make them sick. Signs of chocolate poisoning in pets include tremors, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, and even seizures.
Chocolate poisoning in pets is a medical emergency. The animal should be on an empty stomach and receive therapeutic support with IV fluids and activated charcoal. The veterinarian will likely want to know the type and amount of chocolate the animal ate, as some types of chocolate, such as baking chocolate, may have worse toxic effects.
Chocolate is also high in fat, so a cat’s or dog’s pancreas won’t like it either.
Grapes and dogs don’t mix
And the fruit? Well there is a very poisonous fruit for dogs which often appears at holiday gatherings: grapes, both fresh and dehydrated into raisins.
If consumed, tartaric acid in grapes or raisins can cause acute kidney disease. Common signs of acute kidney disease in dogs are vomiting, intermittent diarrhea, and increased water intake.
Acute kidney failure in dogs is a medical emergency. If suspected, the animal should be transported immediately to a veterinary hospital or emergency room. Treatment is usually limited to stabilizing the animal with IV fluids.
Mild to people, poisonous to pets
While xylitol toxicity is one of the most common emergencies veterinarians see these days, it is still largely unknown to pet owners.
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener often used in sugar-free products. Although safe for humans, it is a fast-acting and potentially fatal poison for cats and dogs.
Ingestion of even the smallest amount of xylitol can cause this. a pet’s liver to quickly release insulin, causing hypoglycemia – abnormally low blood sugar. Within 30 minutes the animal will show symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy and convulsions and loss of coordination of its limbs – called ataxia.
Emergency treatment for a pet with xylitol toxicity involves giving the animal intravenous fluids containing dextrose to raise their blood sugar levels and carefully monitoring their progress.
The bottom line? Several delicious and human-safe foods can be very dangerous for pets in general – not just cats and dogs, but also birds, reptiles and pets like mice, hamsters and gerbils. . So make the holidays special for furry or feathered babies by giving them treats from the pet food store or vet’s office, and keeping them away from the kitchen counter and the trash can.
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