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STEEPLECHASE VETERINARY HOSPITAL
5610 Bethelview Road, Suite 900
Cumming, GA 30040-7529
PHONE: 678-208-2200
Chocolate and Other Holiday Frights!
Many of you may have already heard that chocolate is pretty bad for our pets. And during this time of year, their exposure tends to be pretty high. So how much is too much?
Even small amounts of chocolate can cause signs, but they are usually mild and self-limiting. For a 10 pound dog, mild signs can occur with 1.4 oz. of milk chocolate, 0.6 oz of semi-sweet or dark chocolate, 0.2 oz. of Baker's chocolate,and only 1/10th of an ounce of powdered cocoa. The mild signs tend to be mostly vomiting, diarrhea, and maybe some hyperactivity.
But larger quantities, particularly of darker chocolates, can cause more severe signs, including heart arrhythmias, seizures, even death.
Here are some other holiday favorites that could wind you up with a visit with your pet to the emergency room:
Decorations:
Tinsel and ribbon create interesting textures for cats, but can do very bad things to their insides if ingested.
Ornaments can be deadly to dogs that decide that they would make a great chew toy.
Live Christmas tree water can cause some serious stomach-aches for pets.
Chewing on holiday light cords, well, the problem there is obvious, but many people are surprised that their pets have that interest.
Amaryllis and mistletoe – deadly to cats and dogs. That being said, the Poinsettia, usually thought to be harmful, is actually a fairly harmless planty, so decorate away with those!
Food:
Besides chocolate, bones or remains from the feast can cause some serious indigestion for pets, or even obstructions. And fatty or spicy foods can easily lead to pancreatitis.
Grapes and raisins are deadly to pets, so no pawning off Aunt Mildred's fruitcake on Fluffy. Fluffy may not be that picky, but the effect on Fluffy's kidneys could be serious!
For the most part, a small taste of turkey breast meat won't hurt, but other than that, keep you pet to the foods they are used to. There are a lot of anxiety making moments in the holidays for pets, with changing schedules, decorations, and family visits, so it's best to keep constant what you can, which means keep the meals the same as always, at the same times as always, if possible.
Toys:
Pets are often showered with gifts at this time of the year. A quick walk down the aisle of any pet store and you're bound to see something your pet would adore. Most of the things found in pet stores are tested for animals, and if there is anything to worry about, it will be listed on the label, so read carefully to see what they recommend.
The biggest culprits are those yummy rawhide bones, though almost any toy can have the same problem. You may laugh to see your Chihuahua trying to drag this rawhide bone around that is twice as big as he is, but in fact, that is the best way to size these things. The biggest danger from the rawhides is choking on the knot at the end. They get very slimy after being chewed on for a while, and easily slip down the throat, and then either get lodged right at the windpipe, or pass on down to the stomach to get lodged somewhere in the intestines in a few days. Not fun!
For chew type toys, I recommend deer antlers (we carry then, as does Rucker's Pet Supply behind CVS) or nylabones/kongs.
If you're not sure if something your pet got into is okay, it's better to be safe than sorry, as the signs of toxicity can be severe. Make sure to call your vet or the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. You can also feel free to call us at (678)208-2200, and we'd be delighted to answer any questions you may have about your pet this holiday season.
Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season! Dr. Tonya Amiri and the staff at Steeplechase Veterinary Hospital
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