Fourth Day of Christmas Hazards

One the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a car load of Christmas groceries.

Some people foods are fine for pets. However, some people foods can seriously endanger pets’ health. Play it safe this season by keeping pets on their regular diets over the holidays and don’t let family and friends sneak them table scraps.

While turkey and ham make up the majority of traditional holiday meals, turkey and ham bones can become lodged in the pet’s intestines if swallowed in large pieces. Cats and dogs could become seriously ill or even choke to death.  Fatty foods, such as meat scraps and drippings, may cause pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) when ingested, especially by dogs. Certain breeds, miniature Schnauzers in particular, are more likely to develop pancreatitis than other breeds.
  
Baked holiday goodies of cakes, cookies and breads should definitely be off your pet's dietary list.  First, yeast bread dough can result in a bowel obstruction or a bloated or distended stomach in pets. Second, Xylitol, a common sugar-substitute used in baked goods, candies, and sugar-free chewing gum can be fatal to dogs. (Note: While Xylitol is poisonous to dogs in quantities found in human candies and chewing gum, it is used in some human and pet dental products to help prevent tooth decay. The amount of xylitol typically found in most pet oral-care products is very small and, when used properly, is not expected to cause poisoning unless the dog ingests a very large amount.)


Xylitol may cause a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and can cause liver damage to dogs. Cats and people do not experience this problem. The typical dose needed to cause poisoning is at least 0.05 grams per pound of body weight.  Within 10 to 15 minutes of ingestion, dogs may develop hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), lose coordination, and start vomiting. Collapse and seizures may quickly follow. In rare cases, these signs won’t appear until hours after ingestion.  If you catch the dog in the act, you should induce vomiting.  As always, call your veterinarian.