Keeping your pets safe this Christmas
Updated 2018

The festive period should be a time of fun and relaxation.  Unfortunately, many pets will end up having emergency trips to the veterinarian during this time. 

 Some things to consider:

  • Have you considered what could make your pet sick?
  • Do you know when your regular vet clinic is open over Christmas?
  • Do you know where the afterhours vets are located?
  • Is this your pet’s first Christmas?

Many people are aware that the Christmas ham is a no go area of pets, however are you aware of the other food dangers and non-food dangers?

Foods to avoid

Any rich or high fat food can cause your pet problems including mild gastro intestinal upsets, vomiting, diarrhoea or pancreatitis (a painful and potentially life threatening disease). 

Ham (meat/bone/fat)
  • Vomiting/Diarrhoea
  • Pancreatitis
  • Obstruction
  • Constipation
​
​Chocolate/Fudge
​Vomiting/Diarrhoea
  • Pancreatitis
  • Theobromine can cause chocolate toxicity resulting in seizures or death.
  • The more cocoa that is in the chocolate the more toxic it will be.  
  • Cooking chocolate is seven times more toxic than milk chocolate

Coffee/Tea
  • Coffee and Tea contain xanthines which can cause cardiac and nervous system damage.
​
Grapes, Sultanas and Raisins
  • These contain a toxin that targets the kidneys and can cause renal failure.
  • This is not commonly seen in Australia, however is very common overseas.

​Nuts
  • Vomiting/Diarrhoea
  • Pancreatitis
  • Macadamia nuts contain a toxin that can affect the nervous system of dogs – resulting in incoordination or paralysis.
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Meat Soaked Strings from your Roast
  • These taste delicious to your pets.
  • Can cause linear foreign body requiring emergency surgery.

Turkey (Bone/fat)
  • Vomiting/Diarrhoea
  • Pancreatitis
  • Obstruction
  • Constipation

Skewered Meat
  • If your dog is a rubbish raider, he/she may swallow a skewer – this can be life threatening should the oesophagus, stomach or intestine be pierced and cause peritonitis.
​
Alcohol
  • Alcohol even in small quantities can cause intoxication.  Clean up after parties and don’t leave drinks at dog heights.  Alcohol can kill your pet.
​
Cooked Bones
  • Never feed your dog/cats cooked bones.  These bones can splinter and cause intestinal tearing causing peritonitis – this is life threatening.
​
Artifical Sweeteners
  • Xylitol common in many sugar free drinks and lollies causes liver failure (even in small quantities) in dogs.
  • Also found in chewing gums and a few peanut butter varieties.  Check all labels before feeding to your pet.
​

​Other Holiday Dangers

Decorations and Wrappings
  • Risk for intestinal obstruction (linear foreign body)
  • Strangulation

​Christmas tree decorations
Baubles
Tinsel
Popcorn decorations
  • Strangulation
  • Intestinal Obstructions
  • Cuts from glass ornaments

​Heat Stroke/Stress 
  • An Australian Christmas is often spent around the pool or outside having fun.
  • If your pet doesn’t know when to rest/stop playing/running laps around the pool he may quickly succumb to heat stroke.
  • Life threatening
Batteries
  • If swallowed these can be toxic
  • Intestinal obstruction

​Electrical Cables/Christmas Lights
  • Electrocution risk
  • Fire risk if chewed
Download the file below for a quick easy reference guide to potential Christmas /Australian Holiday dangers.
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Download File


​When to see your vet

You should take your pet to the vet if he/she is unwell at all over the holiday period.  Don’t wait for your regular clinic to re-open as even a delay of 24 hours could put your pet’s life at risk.

Symptoms of Pancreatitis include:
  • Lethargy
  • Depression
  • Reluctance to eat
  • Vomiting (more common in dogs)
  • Diarrhoea (more common in dogs)
  • Abdominal pain
  • Fever (dogs)
  • Fever or subnormal temp (cats)
  • Dehydration
  • Cardiac arrhythmias


Symptoms of Intestinal Obstruction:
  • Abdominal pain
  • Praying position 
  • Reluctance to eat
  • Vomiting
  • Shock
  • Depression
Symptoms of Constipation:
  • Straining to pass faeces
  • Hard dry faeces
  • Small amount of liquid or mucoid stool (usually with blood)
  • Vomiting
  • Reluctance to eat
  • Depression​

Symptoms of Peritonitis:
  • Abdominal pain
  • Praying position 
  • Vomiting 
  • Shock 
  • Tachycardia (fast heart rate)
  • Cardiac arrhythmias
  • Fever

Symptoms of Chocolate Toxicity:
  • Excitability
  • Tachycardia
  • Tremors/shaking
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures

My number one tip for keeping your pets safe this Christmas is careful planning.

 
Christmas tree – barrier your pet away from the tree and presents – baby gates, play pens or elevation of the tree onto a table out of reach.

People – strict supervision from you or another responsible adult

Some pets may become frightened or nervous around new people, loud noises etc.  Set up somewhere for them that they are safe.  Crates or a cool quiet room are a good idea – ensure food, enrichment toys and water are available.

Active supervision with pets and children (an adult within arm’s reach at all times).   Good websites to review are:

www.familypaws.com/resources

http://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/kids-and-dogs-how-kids-should-and-should-not-interact-with-dogs

Familarise yourself with k9 and feline body language – take steps to remove your pet from a situation if they are showing signs of concern.

Check out the Feline and Canine Body Language Pages

 

Supervise all guests and advise them on arrival not to sneak your pets any leftovers or treats without first asking your permission.  Just think, if 20 guests sneak your small dog just a few morsels of food each you will quickly end up with a porky pooch and possibly a sick one too.

Other pets

If your pet is having “friends” over for Christmas or going to another pet’s house – ensure you provide adequate supervision. 

  • Dog fights, are not a pleasant experience for anyone, and you may be injured whilst trying to break them up. 
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Another thing to ensure is that your pet is wearing and has up to date identification

Ensure your dog/cat is wearing current ID (if you are staying away from home make sure you have a mobile number on his/her tag and update the microchip details with this also. 

It is common over Christmas for pets to go missing

  • Accidentally let out by an unsuspecting guest/visitor
  • Travelling to a friend’s place and the property is not as secure as you first thought
  • Summer storms that cause your pet to run and hide - for more on storms click here.

Minimise Stress
  • You can also use Adaptil for dogs and Feliway for cats - pheromones that will help reduce stress.
  • Long lasting chews or food enrichment toys.
  • Safe places - including crates/ex pens for dogs, and vertical space and hidey holes for cats.
  • Zylkene - relatively new to the Australian market in 2018 - safe for both cats and dogs - needs to be used for a few days prior to expected stress - is milk protein - safe and can be used with other pharmaceuticals etc. 
Some useful numbers:

RSPCA Lost and Found...........................................................................07 3426 9999

RSPCA Animal Ambulance......................................................................1300 852 188

Brisbane City Council..............................................................................07 3403 8888

Logan City Council...................................................................................1300 156 426

Moreton Bay Regional Council...............................................................07 3205 0555

Animal Emergency Service (Springwood)..............................................07 3423 1888

Animal Emergency Service (Carrara)......................................................07 5559 1599

Animal Emergency Centre (Woolloongabba).........................................07 3456 0500

Manly Road Veterinary Hospital..............................................................07 3396 9733

BVSC Emergency (Albany Creek)..............................................................07 3264 9400

Pet Emergency (Stafford)...........................................................................07 3359 5333

I hope I haven’t scared you too much, and wish you, your pets, family and friends a

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
References 


Allan, T. (2014). Body Language. [online] All Pets Education and Training. Available at: http://www.allpetseducationandtraining.com.au/body-language.html [Accessed 28 Nov. 2014].

Familypaws.com, (2014). Family Paws-Family Paws resources. [online] Available at: http://familypaws.com/resources/ [Accessed 28 Nov. 2014].

Tilley, L. and Smith, F. (2000). The 5-minute veterinary consult. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Yin, S. (2014). Kids and Dogs: How Kids Should and Should Not Interact with Dogs. [online] Dr. Sophia Yin. Available at: http://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/kids-and-dogs-how-kids-should-and-should-not-interact-with-dogs [Accessed 28 Nov. 2014].

Photos - my own, Carly Bowden, unsplash, pixabay and 123rf