Protect Your Pets from Food Hazards During the Holidays and Beyond

Below is an article taken from Pet Talk:

Sweet treats and family meals are a hallmark of the holidays, but
for many of our furry friends, these same indulgences can be
dangerous.Dr. Mark Stickney, Director of General Surgery Services at the
Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical
Sciences, tells us how we can keep our pets safe while enjoying the
holiday season.
One of the major food dangers to our pets during the holidays and
beyond is chocolate. Eating chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can
cause toxicity in dogs and cats, which can result in death.
“While chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats we see
chocolate toxicity much more often in dogs. This is simply because dogs
are much more likely to eat it. However, it is important to keep it
away from all pets just in case,” notes Stickney.
Although chocolate has long been a known toxin for dogs, other foods
and vegetation can also be very harmful.
“Few people know this, but both grapes and raisins can cause
renal failure in dogs,” states Stickney. “Another thing to note is
that Easter lilies, or really any flower from the lily family, can cause
kidney failure in cats.”
While these foods are especially dangerous, feeding any table
scraps to your pets can cause them harm in the long-run. Because of
this, Stickney stresses the importance of keeping your pet’s diet
regular year-round.
“During the holidays it is common for friends and family
members to slip your pets food under the table. While they think they
are giving them a nice treat, the high fat content of most table scraps
can not only cause weight control problems, but can also cause
pancreatitis,” says Stickney.
In order to avoid these situations, Stickney suggests that you ask
any guests to avoid the temptation of feeding your dogs table scraps and
explain to them the risks associated.
“Most people are more than willing to respect your wishes,
especially when they know the health concerns,” Stickney notes. “Of
course children are another story. The only thing you can do is watch
them like a hawk.”
Even if they are not given food, pets can sometimes find it
themselves. It is not uncommon in the commotion and food preparation of
the holidays to find your animal knee-deep in your trash can.
“It’s important to remember to always keep you trash closed
with a lid or put somewhere your animal cannot reach it,” states
Stickney. “If they do get into it you may have a sick animal on your
hands and no way of knowing what and how much they ate.”
While it is best to keep your animals on their regular diet,
Stickney does say that there are some foods that are safe for pets to
eat.
“If you absolutely have to give them something off of your
plate, hand them a green bean,” says Stickney. “Plain vegetables and
unbuttered, unsalted popcorn are both pretty harmless since they are
mostly fiber and don’t contain a lot of extra calories.”
Although toxic food is a major concern for your pets during the
holiday season, other common substances and smells can also harm them
during this time.
“Birds are very sensitive to anything they can inhale. During
the holidays people like to burn smelly candles and our guests may want
to smoke, but these types of irritants can give our winged companions
the bird version of a cold,” states Stickney.
Another thing to keep in mind, as the weather gets colder and you start
changing your anti-freeze to keep your dogs away from it.
“Anti-freeze has a sweet taste to it that dogs seem to like.
Unfortunately it is extremely toxic and can cause renal failure,”
notes Stickney.
The important thing to remember is that your pets are part of your
family. By keeping an eye out and avoiding over-feeding you can make
sure the entire family is enjoying the season.

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