Holiday Considerations

It’s getting cold outside and our thoughts are always with you and your pets during the season's tidings. Be safe and please don’t hesitate to call your veterinarian if you have any specific questions regarding this topic. There is just so much to cover that this is by no means all inclusive.

The seasons have begun to change, and with the coming of the brisk mornings those early walks we enjoy with our furry friends may become more of a risk. There are many who are not yet awake enough to pay attention to you while crossing the street. Remember that it is dark and sometimes icy. Take precaution and keep out of harm’s way by always assuming the driver is not able to see you. Wait to cross the street until all of the cars are stopped and you have made eye contact with the drivers approaching. Have a light on you and your dog. A leash light can make a big difference. Icy roads make it difficult for a car to stop even if they do see you. Stay a safe distance by keeping you and your pet back away from the curb and out of the street when waiting to cross.

Icy roads means an overabundance of deicer. Many of these deicers make contact with paws a potential problem. Prolonged contact with deicer may damage their paws. A burn-like erosion can be found between the toes. Many dogs will lick these sores making them worse. Avoidance by means of boots will work well to prevent this problem. In the unfortunate event that this does occur, a warm water soak and an elizabethan cone collar is often enough to manage the sores. If your dog eats snow with deicer, then a varying degree of upset stomach is to be expected. Please discourage your dog from eating snow in parking lots, sidewalks etc.

Holiday Dinner

There are very few who will honestly say that their pet does not receive some kind of special meal during their holiday dinners. While many of the foods we eat are perfectly safe for our pets (celery, green beans, potatoes, corn, turkey, carrots) , there are some primary culprits that will take you away from your table and land you in the Pet E.R.

The first thing to remember is that while moderation is the last thing on the minds of many, overeating is a big reason for ill pets. A small dog that eats enough fat can have terrible pancreatitis. A Great Dane that gulps down the last of the mashed potatoes, raw bread dough, his regular meal, and all the rest of what family members offered can lead to Bloat. Remember that a small treat is all that is needed to make us feel good about including our pets.

Avoid prepared foods. Our prepared foods have a lot of seasonings that are high in salt, garlic powder, onion powder, leeks, chives etc. These can lead to dehydration, bloat and anemia in high concentrations. This can be dangerous especially for a pet with underlying heart disease, diabetes etc. Try to feed simple ingredients that are cooked.

Please avoid uncooked foods. While our varying dog breeds are descendants of the wolf, there is no recent history that would provide our pets the ability to resist the effects of bacterial infections. Just like us, pets cannot tolerate salmonella, e-coli, listeria, parasites or other infectious organisms. The risk of diarrhea is far too great. It is important to remember that most veterinary hospitals are closed during the holidays making an ER visit at a premium cost obligatory.

Lastly, bones are a common cause of gastrointestinal obstruction. The digestive tract of the dog has the ability to dissolve bone. This means that many will pass without incident. The concern is that there are varying degrees of digestibility based on size and density. While a dog may be able to swallow an item, these items are not always small enough by the time they reach the narrow ileus. An obstruction can be fatal if not removed surgically for a significant cost. If the bones are sharp, then vomiting them up can be damaging to the esophagus. If you have concerns, an x-ray of the abdomen can help us to determine the likelihood a pet did in fact consume a bone or if it is likely to pass based on comparative measurements.

*The following is a list of foods/ingredients not included in this article that are important to avoid. Please ask your veterinarian for details: Moldy foods, Lily (Flower), Chocolate, Macadamia Nuts, Grapes/raisins, xylitol, Illicit drugs etc.