While you decorate your home with trees, ornaments and lights and stock up on special holiday treats, keep in mind that these activites could bring about holiday hazarrds for your pets. Of all the potential hazards, the majority of holiday realted cases that verts see are food related.
Chocolate, various forms, including baking chocolate - contains caffeine like substances. Depending on the amount ingested, chocolate can potentially cause vomiting, increased thirst and urination, diarrhea, hyperactivity, elevated heart rate and seizures.
Yeast dough-if swallowed, uncooked yeast dough can rise in the stomach and cause extreme discomfort. Pets who have eaten bread dough may experience abdominal pain, bloat, vomiting, disorientation and depression. Since a breakdown product of rising dough is alcohol, it can potentailly cause alcohol poinsoning. Yeast ingestions require surgical removal and even small amounts can be dangerous.
Macadamia nuts - in dogs, ingestion can produce vomiting, weakness in the hind legs, depression and tremors.
Candy, gum- candy, gum or other sweets contain large amounts of sweetener xylitol which can produce a sudden drop in blood sugar resulting in depression, lack of coordination and even seizures.
Alcoholic beverages - never leave alcoholic drinks unattended. If ingested, alcohol can potentially result in vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, acidosis, coma and even death.
Grapes, raisins - ingestion has been associated with acute kidney failure in dogs. Some dogs initially develop vomiting and begin drinking large amounts of water, then subsequently develop diarrhea and life threatening kidney failure.
Coffee - all forms of coffee can produce the same effects as chocolate.
Christmas tree preservative/water - Preservative may contain fertilizers, which if ingested, can upset the stomach. Stagnant tree water can be breeding grounds for bacteria, which can also lead to vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.
Holly plants, holly, mistletoe, lilies, poinsettia - eating holly could produce nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. If a dog or cat eats mistletoe, gastrointestinal upset and possibly even cardiovascular problems may result. All parts of lilies are highly toxic to cats.
Toys, batteries - small toys and batteries can cause choking and gastrointestinal obstruction.
Ice Melts - Ice melt products may contain ingredients that can be very irritating to the skin and gastrointestinal tract and could potentially result in more sever effects including depression, weakness, disorientation, low blood pressure, cardiac problems, seizures, come and even death.
Chocolate, various forms, including baking chocolate - contains caffeine like substances. Depending on the amount ingested, chocolate can potentially cause vomiting, increased thirst and urination, diarrhea, hyperactivity, elevated heart rate and seizures.
Yeast dough-if swallowed, uncooked yeast dough can rise in the stomach and cause extreme discomfort. Pets who have eaten bread dough may experience abdominal pain, bloat, vomiting, disorientation and depression. Since a breakdown product of rising dough is alcohol, it can potentailly cause alcohol poinsoning. Yeast ingestions require surgical removal and even small amounts can be dangerous.
Macadamia nuts - in dogs, ingestion can produce vomiting, weakness in the hind legs, depression and tremors.
Candy, gum- candy, gum or other sweets contain large amounts of sweetener xylitol which can produce a sudden drop in blood sugar resulting in depression, lack of coordination and even seizures.
Alcoholic beverages - never leave alcoholic drinks unattended. If ingested, alcohol can potentially result in vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, acidosis, coma and even death.
Grapes, raisins - ingestion has been associated with acute kidney failure in dogs. Some dogs initially develop vomiting and begin drinking large amounts of water, then subsequently develop diarrhea and life threatening kidney failure.
Coffee - all forms of coffee can produce the same effects as chocolate.
Christmas tree preservative/water - Preservative may contain fertilizers, which if ingested, can upset the stomach. Stagnant tree water can be breeding grounds for bacteria, which can also lead to vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.
Holly plants, holly, mistletoe, lilies, poinsettia - eating holly could produce nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. If a dog or cat eats mistletoe, gastrointestinal upset and possibly even cardiovascular problems may result. All parts of lilies are highly toxic to cats.
Toys, batteries - small toys and batteries can cause choking and gastrointestinal obstruction.
Ice Melts - Ice melt products may contain ingredients that can be very irritating to the skin and gastrointestinal tract and could potentially result in more sever effects including depression, weakness, disorientation, low blood pressure, cardiac problems, seizures, come and even death.