The holiday season officially starts this week, unless you’re one of those overachievers that drags out the decorations and starts menu planning the day after Halloween. For those with pets, it can be tempting to give Fido a leftover turkey bone or Fluffy a piece of bread during all these holiday festivities, but resist that temptation. No one wants an unexpected trip to the emergency vet. But what do we need to avoid? How do we keep Fido and Fluffy healthy and happy from Turkey Day through New Year’s? To get some expert advice on a safe holiday for our favorite four-legged friends, we chatted with Dr. Erin O’Toole, veterinarian at Vanguard Veterinary Hospital in West End.

Boring is beautiful, stick to their routine.

It is very common for dogs and cats to get a few extra treats over the holidays, especially treats they don’t usually eat and those treats are often high in fat. Dogs and cats do not digest fatty foods well and it’s very common to see animals present with pancreatitis and acute gastroenteritis, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and abdominal pain. So avoid any non-lean meat product, such as ham or steak and bones. 

Jump on the gluten-free bandwagon.

Bread dough and yeast can expand in the stomach of your pet and create an obstruction. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure. Garlic, onions and macadamia nuts are toxic as well. And Xylitol and artificial sweeteners can also be very dangerous to your furry loved one.
 

Take Catwoman’s advice – “Mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it.”

Mistletoe, Christmas rose and holly can all cause gastrointestinal upset. Some species of mistletoe can also cause changes in heart rate and blood pressure. And don’t forget, poinsettias and lilies, the most common of holiday plants, are toxic if ingested.

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree …

It is not uncommon for pets to chew on these, which can lead to serious side effects, not to mention electrocution. 

Many dogs and cats will also try to drink out of the Christmas tree water, so avoid water additives to extend the life of the tree if the pet can access this water. If you’re aiming for having the Christmas tree up on Valentine’s Day and additives are your thing, make sure the water is covered to prevent access.

Cats, at times, will ingest tinsel, which can be very dangerous. Tinsel can become a linear foreign body and, in severe cases, the sharp edges can cut the inner lining of the intestines.  In households with cats, Dr. O’Toole recommends avoiding the tinsel all together to be on the safe side.

Baby, it’s cold outside…

As the weather turns colder, there are some additional pet hazards to consider. Salt used to melt ice on roadways and sidewalks can be abrasive to their feet. If at all possible, it’s recommended to use a pet friendly de-icer. If your pet has walked through an area that has been treated with a salt based de-icer, Dr. O’Toole recommends wiping their feet off when they come inside. 

While your car needs antifreeze during the colder weather, be careful your pet doesn’t get near this extremely toxic liquid. If there is any possibility your pet has ingested antifreeze, they should be seen by a veterinarian immediately – time is of the essence in treating antifreeze toxicity.

If an accidental ingestion happens, call the Small Animal Emergency Services at 910-246-0405. The clinic is located at 5091 US Hwy 1 in Vass.

Weekdays: 6 pm to 8 am
Weekends: 6 pm Friday to 8 am Monday
Holidays: 24 hours

Dr. Erin O'Toole graduated from the University of Missouri in 2010.  She has focused her career on small animal practice and emergency medicine.  Dr. O'Toole initially started doing relief work with K2 Solutions, eventually transitioning to a full time associate veterinarian in 2013.  Dr. O'Toole has a strong interest in surgery and has attended advanced training in oral surgery and pathology, ultrasonography and echocardiography and laparoscopic surgical procedures.