Foods

From your pet’s perspective, Christmas is a time of the year when lots of unusual and exciting things are brought into your home. Interesting foods, unusual plants and trees, attractive decorations and Christmas presents will all be of great interest, but some of these things may be harmful if eaten. Whilst dogs are, by nature, more likely to scavenge unsuitable foods, do not forget that cats are at risk also.

CHOCOLATE

Around Christmas time we all have more chocolate in our homes than at any other time of the year. It is therefore no surprise that the number of chocolate poisoning cases is highest in December and is one of the most common reasons for emergency vet visits around this time.
Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine which pets are particularly sensitive to. Theobromine is similar to caffeine and so has a stimulant effect.
How much chocolate a pet needs to ingest to cause toxicity depends on two main factors: 1) how big your animal is and 2) how much theobromine is in the chocolate they have eaten. Generally, the darker and more expensive the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains.
Chocolate can initially cause vomiting and diarrhoea, but is a stimulant, so can lead to your pet becoming excitable, as well as developing muscle twitching, tremors, fitting and life-threatening problems with their heart. If enough chocolate is eaten then the effects can be severe or even fatal.

Over the Christmas period make sure that all chocolate is out of the reach of your pets. Do not forget:

• Those hanging on your Christmas tree
• Advent calendars
• Wrapped chocolatey presents under your Christmas tree (just because it is wrapped, does not mean your dog cannot smell it!)

Although chocolate wrappers are not poisonous, they can cause an obstruction if eaten. This can be very dangerous and may require surgical intervention. Signs of an obstruction may include vomiting, lethargy, your pet being off their food, not going for a poo, or finding it difficult to have a poo.

CHRISTMAS CAKE, MINCE PIES AND CHRISTMAS PUDDING

All of these festive treats contain dried grapes in the form of raisins, currants or sultanas. Grapes, and all the dried versions of them, are known to be toxic to pets. In fact, it is believed that these dried fruits are more toxic than fresh grapes themselves. Other Christmassy dried fruit dangers:

• Stollen
• Chocolate covered raisins
• Fruit cake

We do not know why these fruits are toxic, or how much is poisonous. Some pets have eaten large quantities of this fruit and had no effects, while others have become unwell after very small amounts.
As well as possibly causing vomiting and diarrhoea, these fruits can cause kidney failure, which can be delayed for 24 to 72 hours. Signs of kidney failure can include a decrease in urination, your pet may also appear dull, or show signs of increased thirst. Quick treatment is important, so contact your vet immediately if your pet eats any of the above.

SAGE AND ONION STUFFING

Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives all belong to the allium family and can be found in most types of Christmas stuffing. These plants all contain a substance which can damage red blood cells and cause life-threatening anaemia.
Signs may not show for a few days, but can include being vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain. Your pet may appear sleepy, dull, weak, off their food and sometimes they may have rapid breathing.

OTHER FOODS TO BE AWARE OF

Macadamia nuts

Why these nuts are poisonous is not known, but macadamia nuts can cause your pet to appear weak (particularly in their back limbs), dull and sleepy. They can also sometimes appear wobbly on their feet, or they may appear in pain or stiff when walking. Vomiting, tremors, lethargy and an increased body temperature may also be seen. These effects usually appear within 12 hours and may last up to two days. Some macadamia nuts are covered in chocolate and so pose a double risk.

Blue cheese

Roquefort and other blue cheeses contain a substance called roquefortine C, which is produced by the fungus that is used to produce these cheeses. Pets appear sensitive to this substance and more extreme cases can cause them to quickly develop muscle tremors and seizures, which may last for up to two days.

Alcohol

Pets are believed to be more sensitive to ethanol than humans and so drinking even a small amount of alcohol can cause effects. Certain alcoholic drinks may be more appealing to pets, such as cream or egg-based drinks. Pets may develop similar effects to those expected in humans, including becoming drowsy, wobbly on their feet and in more severe cases they can develop low body temperature, low blood sugar, seizures and coma.

Bones

When cooked, all bones become brittle and can easily splinter. Eating chicken, turkey or goose carcasses may cause larger pieces of bone to cause an obstruction, while smaller pieces may irritate the gut, or even penetrate the stomach or intestinal wall, which requires emergency surgery.
When preparing your Christmas dinner, ensure that any meat is out of reach of your pet. When throwing away a carcass, take it to the outside bin, therefore avoiding any temptation for your pet to raid your kitchen bin during the night.

Fatty foods

Many Christmas foods are very fatty or rich, and a festive overindulgence by your pet may result in a nasty bout of vomiting and diarrhoea. Large high-fat meals can lead to pancreatitis, a very painful and serious condition. Make sure you keep your pet out of the kitchen after you have served up your Christmas meal. Any leftovers or even the juices and fats in the meat-roasting pan might be too tempting for them to resist.

Mouldy foods

Mouldy foods can contain lots of different toxins and, if eaten, may make your pet ill. One particular substance, which is mostly found on mouldy dairy products, bread and nuts, can cause pets to quickly develop muscle tremors and seizures, which may last for up to two days. If you compost your food scraps, then make sure that they are kept outside in a sealed container that your pet cannot access.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PET EATS ANY OF THE ABOVE FOODS

It is easier for a vet to care for a poisoned pet if it is treated sooner rather than later. If you are in any doubt, do not wait for your pet to become unwell before calling for advice.

In an emergency you can help your veterinary practice make an informed decision as to whether your dog needs to be treated by them and, if so, what the best treatment would be. Where possible you should provide your veterinary practice with information on:

• What you think your pet has been exposed to (e.g. chocolate, cooked bones etc.) Include any product names, or lists of ingredients if relevant
• How much they may have eaten (i.e. 500mg, 500ml, one tablet etc, even approximations may help)
• When your pet was exposed (i.e. 5 minutes, 5 hours or 5 days ago)
• If your pet has been unwell and, if so, what clinical effects have been seen

If you do need to take your pet to your veterinary practice, make sure that you take along any relevant packaging, or a sample of the poison, e.g. parts of plant or fungi. Always make sure that you yourself are protected and cannot be poisoned in turn.

Whilst there may seem a huge array of items to keep your pet away from this Christmas, a few simple steps can help ensure risks are minimised. Ensuring all the family are aware of the hazards is essential, so everyone can work together to make it a great festive season for all.

Postdate: 16th Dec 2020