Holiday Food Can Poison Pets

It is the time of year for Pet Parents to think about buying that special new pet collar, cute dog outfits, or even for those not freezing this time of year, a dog stroller.  But while we think of things to put ON our pets, we may forget what to not put IN our pets.

It is the time of year when new things are introduced into a pet’s environment that are not familiar and not safe.  Pet owners need to be mindful of the poisons that exist this time of year, and they need to remind visitors not to feed the pets, and to pick up dropped items that may upon eating may harm the pet.

Top of the season list is chocolate, with a reminder that the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous.  Alcohol to a grown person can have serious effects that are multiplied by ingestion by a smaller animal.  Raisins are grapes and grapes are poisonous to dogs.   Pets can have allergic reactions, just like people, to nuts, but macadamia nuts are highly poisonous to dogs. 

Spices abound in holiday cooking, and four particularly dangerous spices are abundant in seasonal food and should be avoided:  turmeric, mace, nutmeg and paprika are known for causing such reactions as seizures and even death.  While not technically poisonous, garlic, chives, leeks and onions can cause anemia.

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener which is dangerous for pet ingestion and can cause hypoglycemia and liver failure.

While planning on a happy holiday season, with the family pet in the new pet collar and comfy in the cat or dog bed, a mindful Pet Parent will think not just what goes on the pet, but what should not go in the pet.