Keeping your pets safe this Christmas

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.

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.

Meat Soaked Strings from your Roast

These taste delicious to your pets.
Can cause linear foreign body requiring emergency surgery.

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

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

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.

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.

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].