WWL would like the holidays to be a happy time for you and your dog. Some of the food items and the decorations that add fun to your holiday could be dangerous to your dog. Have fun, enjoy your family, but be aware.
Foods
Rich, fatty foods, like gravy or grease, can cause problems ranging from stomach upsets to pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas resulting in pain, vomiting, and dehydration. Dogs with this serious condition often require hospitalization for treatment.
Alcohol can cause serious intoxications in pets, and many dogs are attracted to it. Every year hundreds of dogs die after a single incident of alcohol consumption..
Chocolate, coffee, and tea all contain dangerous components called xanthines, which cause nervous system or urinary system damage and heart muscle stimulation. Keep them out of reach and make sure the small kids are not feeding the dog anything like this. Uncooked meat, fish, and poultry can contain disease-causing bacteria, such as E. coli, and parasites. Certain uncooked foods should not be given to your dog.
Bones from fish, meat, or poultry can cause serious problems if swallowed. Splinter bones can cause lacerations throughout the intestinal tract.
Tobacco products can be fatal to pets, if ingested. Signs of poisoning develop within 15 to 45 minutes and include excitation, salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Pets may develop seizures, collapse and die from cardiac arrest. Keep cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, nicotine gum and patches, and ashtrays out of the reach of pets. Empty ashtrays frequently since cigarette butts contain about 25% of the total nicotine in a cigarette.
Uncooked yeast dough can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.
Grapes and raisins contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys.
The artificial sweetner, xylitol,, that is present in some gums, breath mints, candy, and other human food can be very toxic to dogs.
Macadamia nuts contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscles of dogs.
Remember, dogs have an exceptional sense of smell – juices on plastic or aluminum foil left on countertops are very tempting. If ingested, plastic or foil wrap (cellophane candy wrappers or food wrap) can cause choking or intestinal obstruction.
Meat-soaked strings from rump roasts are also enticing. Ingestion can cause a surgical emergency called a linear string foreign body, in the intestines.
To be safe, put away food immediately, and pet-proof your garbage. Garbage contains all kinds of other hazards for your dog such as plastic wrap and bags, 6-pack beverage holders that could cause strangulation, fat trimmings, bones, and pieces of ribbon or tinsel.
Feed your pet(s) before a party so they will not be so apt to beg or steal food.
Poisonous Plants
We all like making our homes more festive for the holidays. We enjoy the green foliage and colorful flowers of plants. Unfortunately, many of the plants we have in our homes during the holidays can be poisonous to pets. If ingested, holly (leaves and berries) causes stomach upset and can be potentially fatal to both dogs and cats. Mistletoe upsets stomachs and can cause heart collapse, while hibiscus may cause diarrhea. Poinsettias have an irritating sap that can
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