Holiday Hazards for your Pet

Susan Ferguson, DVM

            Hooray!  The holidays are upon us.  Let the feasting begin!  I can almost taste the dressing and gravy, the cakes and pies, that golden turkey!  And what better joy than to share this bounty with our beloved pets, right?  WRONG!  As tempting as it is to include Fluffy and Fido in your culinary celebrations PLEASE resist the urge.

            Even though we tend to appreciate variety in our diets our pets prefer consistency, and often will develop an upset stomach (or worse!) if they eat table foods.  Pancreatitis is a very serious condition that can develop from eating fatty foods.  It is characterized by vomiting, diarrhea and a painful belly and usually requires hospitalization to treat (the last thing you or your pet wants on Thanksgiving night).  Also keep in mind that chewing on bones or corn cobs can result in one of these items becoming lodged in your pet’s stomach or intestine requiring emergency surgery (again, the last thing you want during your celebrations).  And many foods that people enjoy such as grapes and onions are actually toxic to our animals.  Always check with your veterinarian first before offering any people foods (or better yet, avoid these things altogether). 

            By all means celebrate the joys of the season with your four-legged family members but just do so safely.  Instead of giving treats from your table give them a feast of hugs and kisses.  Happy Holidays!