Keeping pets safe over the Festive Season

Festive foods that are dangerous for pets:

• Onions, Garlic & Chives  –   Poison Risk  –  These contain thiosulphate, which cannot be properly digested by cats and dogs. This can build up in the blood and cause a reaction with red blood cells resulting in their rupture.

• Alcohol & Caffeine  –  Poison Risk  –  Slower metabolism results in cats and dogs being more sensitive to their effects.  Most notably increased blood pressure, increased stress to the heart, and tremors or seizures.

• Chocolate  –  Extreme Poison Risk  –  Contains theobromine, a compound similar to caffeine which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, increased stress to the heart, tremors or seizures and can be fatal.

• Fruit Cake, Fruit Mince Pies & Christmas Pudding  –  Severe Poison Risk  –  Grapes, raisins and sultanas are toxic to cats and dogs.  It has been recently found that Tartaric Acid is at fault which can cause lethargy, excessive thirst, vomiting and sudden onset kidney failure which in serious cases can be fatal. Even one raisin can be a serious concern.

• Macadamia Nuts  –  Poison Risk, Medical Risk  –  Toxic compounds can cause vomiting, weakness, fever and tremors if eaten by dogs. These nuts are also high in fat which can cause internal irritation, most commonly inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), resulting in lethargy and vomiting.

• Xylitol (a common ingredient in sugarless treats and sugarless gum)  –   Severe Poison Risk  –  In dogs, even small amounts cause low blood sugar, seizures, liver failure and can be fatal in severe cases.

• Avocados  –  Poison Risk, Medical Risk, Surgical Risk  –  The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs, and more serious symptoms in other animals.  Birds, horses and rodents are especially sensitive to avocado toxicity. The bigger risk to cats and dogs is choking or blockage if the pit or stone is swallowed and the risk of pancreatitis in dogs due to the high fat content.

• Stones and pips of peaches, plums, persimmons, and apples –  Severe Poison Risk, Medical Risk, Surgical Risk  –  These contain a substance that degrades to cyanide, which can cause drooling, vomiting, tremors and seizures. Can be fatal if broken seeds are eaten. The stones of peaches and plums are also a choking hazard that can cause blockages and damage to the intestine.

• Sweetcorn Cobs  –  Medical Risk, Surgical Risk  –  These can cause choking and blockages in the small intestine that may need to be removed surgically.

• Turkey skin, Pork crackling, Sausages & Fatty meats  –  Medical Risk  –  These can lead to pancreatitis in dogs and cause symptoms such as vomiting and bloody diarrhoea.

• BBQ Kebab sticks –   Surgical Risk  –  These can easily be swallowed accidentally by a dog when steeling a bit of meat left on the kebab. Once swallowed, kebab sticks have a high instance of perforating tissues such as the stomach, intestines and the diaphragm which requires urgent surgical attention.

• BBQ Bones  –  Surgical Risk  –  Cooked bones, especially sheep and chicken, are brittle and easily broken into sharp pieces. This poses a significant risk when swallowed as these can cause damage to the stomach and intestines and may become stuck requiring surgery.