One of The Twelve Days of Christmas Holiday Pet Hazards

My version of the 12 days of Christmas will be to share with you some important potential holiday hazards for your pets. Avoiding these hazards are not only in the best interest for your pet, it will also prevent you from adding to your holiday expenses in veterinary bills (while helping me pay the utility bills!)

One the First Day of Christmas my true love gave to me, one fruitcake!

While fruitcake may be a desirable food for people, it can actually be deadly to pets.
Grapes, raisins, and currants are common ingredients in fruitcakes and can result in kidney failure in dogs (and potentially cats and ferrets) if ingested. Additionally, fruitcake that has been soaked in rum or other alcohol may lead to ethanol intoxication.

The ingestion of grapes, raisins, and currants may lead to acute vomiting followed by increased thirst, increased urination, lethargy, and a decreased appetite as kidney failure progresses. Alcohol ingestion may lead to a rapid and dangerous drop in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature. Pets ingesting alcohol can experience seizures and respiratory failure.

For animals that ingest alcohol, the induction of vomiting may be contraindicated if the animal has neurological depression or has had spontaneous vomiting.  Following the ingestion of grapes, raisins, and currants, the immediate induction of vomiting is often advised.


If you suspect your pet has eaten this sweet bread, you should contact your veterinarian.  Recovery from this dietary indiscretion is excellent if animals are treated before signs begin. Once pets have begun to develop kidney failure from grapes, raisins, or currents or have developed significant neurological depression and low blood sugar from alcohol, the prognosis becomes much worse.