Tag Archives: poisonous foods for pets

Cat Care, Dog Care, General Health

Holiday Foods Your Pet Should Never Eat

If your family is like most, food is a big part of your holiday celebrations. Keep in mind that plenty of common holiday morsels aren’t safe for our four-legged friends! Below, your Floyds Knob, IN veterinarian tells you about a variety of foods to watch out for this time of year.

Sweet Treats

As you probably know, chocolate is a very dangerous pet poison—never allow your pet to ingest chocolate of any type or any food that contains chocolate. Candies, gum, and many baked pastry items aren’t safe either, as they’re often sweetened with a sugar substitute called xylitol. Xylitol can poison pets in very small amounts, so tightly restrict your pet’s access to any and all sweet treats.

Onions, Garlic, Scallions

It’s a safe bet that at least one dish on your holiday table will contain onions or garlic. Did you know that onions, garlic, scallions, shallots, chives, and leeks are all dangerous for pets? They’re all included in the allium food family, and they can cause toxic reactions in both dogs and cats. This goes for all varieties of these foods (cooked, raw, powdered, etc.). Keep your furry friend away!

Grapes, Raisins, Currants

Grapes, raisins, and currants have proven to be toxic to many of our canine and feline friends. Although it’s not clear what agent in these foods causes poisoning, and some pets seem to be able to ingest them without incident, it’s not worth taking the chance. Keep an eye on any holiday fruit trays that may contain these foods to make sure your pet doesn’t chow down.

Rich, Buttery, Fatty Foods

Too much rich or buttery food will undoubtedly cause an upset stomach, and it may lead to vomiting or diarrhea in many pets. An overload of fat at all once can even cause a very serious case of pancreatitis in some instances! Make sure that all dinner guests know not to slip your pet any table scraps without your consent.

Alcohol

Pets respond to alcohol just like humans do. The difference is, alcohol can poison a small pet in a very short time! If your holiday festivities will include alcoholic beverages, it’s important to keep a close eye on all drinks to make sure Fido or Fluffy doesn’t imbibe.

Would you like more advice on keeping your pet safe during the holidays? We’re here to help! Call your Floyds Knob, IN vet today.

Cat Care, Dog Care, General Health

How to Keep Your Dog or Cat Safe During the Holidays

If your pet is like many, she’s probably excited to be included in the holiday festivities this year. Use these tips from your Georgetown, IN veterinarian to keep your four-legged friends safe throughout the holiday season.

Keep an Eye on Toxic Foods

Many holiday foods aren’t good for pets, including onions, garlic, chives, grapes and raisins, chocolate, candy, gum, caffeine, salt, fatty foods, certain nuts, and more. Keep your pet out of the kitchen during meal preparation and dinnertime so that they can’t gain access to any harmful foods. Also, refrain from offering your pet bones; they can splinter apart when chewed, creating chunks or shards that can hurt your pet when swallowed.

Decorate Carefully

Use caution when decorating your holiday tree. Tinsel and ornaments likely look like fun toys to many pets, but they can cause choking, intestinal obstruction, and other problems if swallowed. If necessary, place decorations on the high portion of your tree where pets can’t reach them, or leave them off entirely.

Wrap Wisely

It’s best not to include your pet in holiday gift-wrapping sessions. Wrapping paper, tape, twine, ribbons, and bows can all be swallowed, leading to choking and intestinal blockage. Don’t leave such items lying around where pets can gain access to them. Also, put away scissors rather than leaving them on the floor, as pets and humans alike can cut themselves by accident.

Beware of Alcohol

Be sure to use caution when including alcohol in your holiday celebrations. Alcohol of all types—liquor, wine, beer, champagne, even certain foods cooked with alcohol—can prove very dangerous for pets. It affects animals the same way it affects humans, except that it takes only small amounts to do serious damage. Never let pets imbibe in alcoholic beverages or eat foods made with alcohol.

Reduce Stress and Anxiety

The hustle and bustle of the holidays can affect many pets negatively, especially if they’re shy to begin with. If guests are coming to your home over the holiday season, set up a “safe zone” in a quiet back room just for your pet. Include a pet bed, some soft blankets, and a toy or two. Lead your pet here if you see them beginning to exhibit signs of distress.

Would you like more advice on keeping your pet safe this holiday season? Give your vet in Georgetown, IN a call today for help from a veterinary professional.