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Holiday Health Threats for Pets!

Prevent your pet spending the holiday in the ER!

THE MANY DANGERS OF PEOPLE FOOD:

•  Bones - Never give bones, especially poultry bones to your pets. Poultry bones may splinter and lodge in the throat. Most bones do not dissolve in the stomach, or will not dissolve fast enough to prevent them causing a problem. They may become lodged in the intestines, requiring surgical removal, perforate the GI tract causing a serious illness called peritonitis. At best, they may cause a mild to severe case of gastroenteritis.
• Pancreatitis - This illness causes vomiting and severe abdominal pain and may be brought on by eating high-fat foods. Schnauzers are particularly prone, but any dog or cat may be affected. The illness may range from mild to severe, with the worst cases becoming fatal.
• Gastroenteritis due to dietary indiscretion- Sometimes we see this when pets get into the garbage, but often it happens when well-intentioned owners share their holiday feast with their pets. The pet comes down with vomiting and diarrhea, often bloody diarrhea. Cases may range from mild to severe, but frequently require hospitalization on IV fluids, at minimum.

 Foods toxic to pets:

• Raw yeast dough -the live yeast in unbaked dough will ferment the sugar in the dough into alcohol, literally causing the pet to become dangerously ?drunk?.
• Chocolate - contains theobromine, which may cause vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart beat or arrhythmia, hyperactivity, tremors, and in high doses, seizures, coma, and death. The concentration of theobromine is highest in baking, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate, milk chocolate has somewhat less, and white chocolate has the lowest concentration.
• Grapes and raisins - it is not yet fully understood at what quantity or frequency they may be dangerous, but grapes and raisins have been shown to sometimes cause kidney failure in dogs.
• Garlic or onions - can cause a type of anemia.
• Macadamia nuts - may cause weakness, uncoordinated movement, vomiting.
• Xylitol, an artificial sweetener - most often found in sugar-free gum, mints, and candy, this substance may cause a sudden severe drop in blood sugar (lethargy, weakness, uncoordinated movement, seizures) and may also be associated with liver problems.
• Tinsel, Ribbon, Yarn, Thread, etc. -If swallowed, the small intestine will bunch up along it like fabric on a drawstring. This strangles off the blood supply to the affected section of intestine. Large sections of intestine must often be surgically removed. If surgical intervention does not occur quickly, the intestine will perforate, causing peritonitis.
• Electrical Cords - Chewing on electrical cords may cause burns in the mouth and, often, difficulty breathing due to fluid accumulation in the lungs, which may occur anywhere from 1 to 36 hours after electrocution. See veterinary attention immediately if your pet has been, or may have been, electrocuted or shows any sign of breathing difficulty.
• Fragrance oil or liquid potpourri - Often ingested after the product is spilled and the pet walks though it and licks it off its paws. May cause mild to severe irritation and ulcerations of the skin, mouth and GI tract.
• Poinsettia plants - these are not as toxic as is commonly believed. Ingestion may cause mild GI upset, but this is generally self-limiting. Take up food and water for about 2 hours to rest the stomach and watch to make sure that symptoms resolve themselves quickly

CHOCOLATE TOXICITY

Chocolate contains theobromine that is toxic to dogs in sufficient quantities. The good news is that it takes, on average, a fairly large amount of theobromine 100-150 mg/kg to cause a toxic reaction. Although there are variables to consider like the individual sensitivity, animal size and chocolate concentration.

The following lists the amount of theobromine in different chocolates.

Milk Chocolate - 44 mg/ oz

Semi-Sweet -150 mg/oz

Baker?s Dark -390 mg/oz

CLINICAL SIGNS

Xanthines affect the nervous system, cardiovascular system and peripheral nerves. It has a diuretic effect as well. Clinical signs: hyper excitability, hyper irritability, increased heart rate, restlessness, increased urination, muscle tremors, vomiting, diarrhea.

Milk chocolate will often cause diarrhea 12-24 hours after ingestion.

TREATMENT

Once absorbed, theobromine takes about 30 hours to be eliminated from the body. If we know that the pet has ingested a significant amount of the toxin, we will often attempt to induce vomiting, pump the stomach and/or administer activated charcoal to help absorb the toxin in the gastrointestinal tract.

There is no specific antidote for this poisoning. However, supportive therapy including intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy, sedation and possibly anticonvulsants might be indicated if neurological signs are present and need to be controlled.

If you suspect your pet has ingested chocolate contact your Veterinarian immediately! We can help you determine the proper treatment for your pet!

Did you know?

• Dogs cannot perspire. They get rid of heat by panting instead of evaporation.
• Heatstroke can occur in just a few minutes.
• Dogs and cats are at much greater risk of heatstroke than people.
• Many pets with heatstroke will die without appropriate therapy.
• During the hotter months (March - November), you should not exercise you pet in the heat of the day.
• Hot pavement can cause third degree burns on your pet's feet.
• Your pet can suffer a heatstroke from just lying around in the back yard.
• A car's interior can reach life threatening temperatures in just a few minutes.even if the windows are rolled all the way down.

Heatstroke is preventable, yet this time of year we see many cases each month. There are no set guidelines on when it is or is not safe to allow your pets outdoors. The amount of exposure considered safe varies depending upon the pet's age, body condition, type of exercise (walking or running), duration, and the current weather conditions. If you are unsure please consult your veterinarian.

A good rule of thumb: If it is too hot to be exercising an infant child, it is too hot for your pet!

Summer Safety Tips

• If you must exercise your pet, do so early in the morning or late in the evening when it is coolest. Walking is preferable to running.
• Wet your pet before and after exercising. Sit him in front of a fan to cool off afterwards.
• Make frequent stops to rest and to offer water.
• Never leave your pet outside in the heat unsupervised.
• Always provide fresh clean water and shelter. During the hottest part of the day, even this may be inadequate. It is safest to keep your pet indoors.

Signs of Heatstroke

• Panting, dry pale gums
• Vomiting, diarrhea
• Elevated temperature, staggering, sluggishness, seizures
• Unresponsiveness, coma, and ultimately death

IF YOU SUSPECT THAT YOUR PET IS SUFFERING FROM HEATSTROKE, TAKE THEM TO A VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATLEY!

Most snakebites in the US (Texas has the highest number of reported bites annually) come from members of the Crotalidae family, also known as the "pit vipers". These would be varieties such as Rattlesnakes, Water Moccasins, & Copperheads.

Severity of Venom Toxicity:

The most venomous of these vipers would be the Rattlesnake. They are responsible for the most fatalities in the US, annually. Second to them would be the Water Moccasin (also commonly referred to as "Cottonmouths"). Although they are less common, and less aggressive than Rattlesnakes these guys are dangerous because they do not give any type of warning comparable to the warning rattle of a Rattlesnake. Victims are often caught off guard by them. Last of all would be Copperheads. While they are responsible for the most reported bites, their venom (in general) is considered to be "sub-lethal". Usually it is not enough to kill most dogs or cats. You may still, however, experience a medical emergency if your animal is struck by one. We urge you to seek medical attention regardless of the type of snake.

Little Known Venom Facts:

• Juveniles have more concentrated venom than adults.

• Venom tends to be less potent in the fall.

• The volume of venom increases with time since the snake's last meal.

How Venom Works:

The cardiovascular system is the primary target of this toxin. It attacks the cells that line the blood and lymphatic vessels, the heart, and various other body cavities. Immobilization of prey is achieved by damaging these cells in the victim, allowing plasma to extrude and blood to go into surrounding tissues and spaces (some know this as "bleeding out"). This leads to low blood volume and shock. In addition, since snakes do not chew their food they need enzymes in their venom to start the digestive process. This starts the breakdown of the prey's body prior to actual digestion.

Physical Symptoms Associated with Envenomation:

• Pain, bruising, swelling, and necrosis of tissue at/around the bite site

• Blood clotting defects (presence of mini hemorrhages on the mucous membranes)

• Decreased number of platelets in the blood (affects clotting times).

• Cardiovascular and respiratory distress

• Low blood pressure and high heart rate (together = "shock")

• Depression and/or lethargy

• Nausea and excessive salivation

Vaccination:

There is now a rattlesnake vaccine that can be effective to aid in treatment if given prior to exposure. If you are interested in details regarding this vaccine, you should contact your regular veterinarian to discuss it. It is, however, manufactured using only venom of the Western Diamondback Rattler and since both Eastern and Western varieties are common in Texas we still recommend antivenin and hospitalization in all cases.