Winter Newsletter
Avoiding An Emergency Room Christmas
The holiday season is a great time of year. We get to together with friends and family and enjoy wonderfully prepared food. As great as this time of year is, it does pose some potential risks to our pets. The highest number of gastric issues and food toxicities occur during this time. With the vast variety of foods present it is very easy for Spot to get a treat that could upset his/her stomach or potentially be fatal. Your family at Premier animal hospital would like to give you some tips to help avoid any holiday nightmares.
Toxic foods: Grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, chocolate and sugar free gum (xylitol) are the most common toxic foods are pets get exposed to. If your dog or cat ingest any of these foods contact your veterinarian immediately.
Bones: Although Fido would love to chew on a chicken or hambone, they can have some unwanted side effects. Fractured teeth, gastritis/pancreatitis and obstruction are common side effects from giving bones as treats. There are much better dental treats on the market that are safer on the teeth and are easily digestible. C.E.T. chews and greenies are our favorite.
Table scraps: Any treat off the table has the risk of upsetting our pet’s stomach and gastrointestinal track causing vomiting and/or diarrhea. Our pets are used to a consistent well balanced diet and any treat has the potential for upsetting their normal GI flora and stomach lining. It is best to not give any table treats, but if you must, pick the blandest treat and use moderation. Avoid anything with a lot of fat, grease or seasoning on it. Again, it is best not to give but if you are a sucker for their stare give them a small amount of something bland.
The Garbage can. Even if you have been diligent and not given in, the day is not over. All those table scrapes sitting in the trash are begging your pet to investigate. Bacteria can start growing on food as soon as 2 hours after cooking. This makes the trash can a bigger concern because not only can the food itself upset your pet’s stomach but there may be harmful bacteria and bacterial toxins forming on the food. Make sure all waste is properly secured and pet proofed.
We hope these tips will help your holidays be as enjoyable as possible.
Holiday Tips
The holiday season is a great time of year. We get to together with friends and family and enjoy wonderfully prepared food. As great as this time of year is, it does pose some potential risks to our pets. The highest number of gastric issues and food toxicities occur during this time. With the vast variety of foods present it is very easy for Spot to get a treat that could upset his/her stomach or potentially be fatal. Your family at Premier animal hospital would like to give you some tips to help avoid any holiday nightmares.
Toxic foods: Grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, chocolate and sugar free gum (xylitol) are the most common toxic foods are pets get exposed to. If your dog or cat ingest any of these foods contact your veterinarian immediately.
Bones: Although Fido would love to chew on a chicken or hambone, they can have some unwanted side effects. Fractured teeth, gastritis/pancreatitis and obstruction are common side effects from giving bones as treats. There are much better dental treats on the market that are safer on the teeth and are easily digestible. C.E.T. chews and greenies are our favorite.
Table scraps: Any treat off the table has the risk of upsetting our pet’s stomach and gastrointestinal track causing vomiting and/or diarrhea. Our pets are used to a consistent well balanced diet and any treat has the potential for upsetting their normal GI flora and stomach lining. It is best to not give any table treats, but if you must, pick the blandest treat and use moderation. Avoid anything with a lot of fat, grease or seasoning on it. Again, it is best not to give but if you are a sucker for their stare give them a small amount of something bland.
The Garbage can. Even if you have been diligent and not given in, the day is not over. All those table scrapes sitting in the trash are begging your pet to investigate. Bacteria can start growing on food as soon as 2 hours after cooking. This makes the trash can a bigger concern because not only can the food itself upset your pet’s stomach but there may be harmful bacteria and bacterial toxins forming on the food. Make sure all waste is properly secured and pet proofed.
We hope these tips will help your holidays be as enjoyable as possible.
