| |
Pet Tips
Christmas Pet Tips
As the holidays near and our homes fill with hope
and excitement, it is important to remember that many potential
hazards face our furry friends. Some of the hazards are more dangerous
than others and some more obvious than others.
Many a curious feline and the occasional puppy
find the electric cords to be fascinating toys. The problem that
can occur is when the Christmas lights are on and those sharp
teeth pierce into the wires. Electrocution may only cause minor
burns to the tissues (usually of the mouth). However, it may cause
more serious conditions in the lungs (fluid accumulation) or abnormal
rhythms in the heart. A few ways to help prevent electric shock
from occuring are to remove all tags from cords, try to prevent
dangling of cords and if necessary be sure that pets are well
supervised while the lights are on.
The holidays usually see the arrival of foreign
body (FB) ingestion. Unfortunately the throat, stomach and intestines
do not always react favorably to these objects. Tinsel is among
the culprits of which to be mindful. This along with other types
of stringy toys, ribbons and decorations can cause "string
gut". This can cause vomiting, diarrhea, inappetance and
lethargy. If these are seen and your cat (or dog less commonly),
is suspected of ingesting such an object, a visit to your veterinarian
is strongly advised. Unfortunately with string-type FBs, a part
of the string will lodge in one spot. The rest of the string moves
through the intestines and can act like a saw and actually cut
through the wall. The best method of prevention is to keep all
potentially hazardous objects out of reach. This includes tinsel,
ribbons, small toys, candy wrappers etc. As the owner of a very
curious 7-year old feline an unsupervised moment led to the ingestion
of the string that had just been removed from the holiday bird.
This was the cause of much distress for everyone, especially Felix,
who luckily passed the string with the aid of laxatives and rehydration.
If your pet should be one of the lucky ones that "passes"
the string - please remember that pulling at the offending object
as is moves out of your pet can cause much damage. Just cut it
carefully and monitor closely. Unfortunately, not all pets are
so lucky and require intensive medical and sometimes surgical
intervention.
Then there is the holiday food itself. Oh how tempting
it all is…. chocolates, turkey, bones, fat……
It is best to stick with Fido's usual diet to prevent the upset
that comes from dietary change. All bones can potentially cause
inflammation in the stomach and instestines and may splinter and
cause perforation. A high fat intake may reak havoc on the pancreas
- the organ that is responsible for the production of digestive
enzymes. Pancreatic inflammation (pancreatitis) can cause severe
illness in animals. Last but not least heavenly chocolate that
surrounds us during the holidays, often mistaken by dogs for a
good treat. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine. Different
types of chocolate contain different amounts each - theobromine
is the predominant toxic component with caffeine usually in much
lower concentration. The concentration of theobromine is present
in increasing concentration in chocolate as follows: white, milk,
dark (sweet), semi-sweet chips, baker's (unsweetened), cocoa beans,
cocoa powder. If your pet ingests chocolate - contact your veterinarian.
Chocolate can not only cause GI upset but has more serious effects
on the nervous system (can lead to tremors or seizures) and may
cause an increase in heart rate. A calculation of the thoebromine
ingested will be made based on the product and amount eaten. This
will help to determine is a visit to clinic is needed. If dangerous
levels have been eaten, vomiting may be induced and activated
charcoal may be given to bind the toxin. Intavenous fluids may
also be necessary to increase urination to prevent the reabsorption
of caffeine from the bladder.
Holiday plants can also be a risk factor - while
poinsetta has long been thought of as poisonous - its main effect
is mechanical irritation of the stomach leading to vomiting. Less
innocent are mistletoe; holly and ivy should be kept out of reach.
Articles by Dr. Emma Raghavan
Appearing in the Halifax Daily News
|
Family
Members