DR SAMANTHA SCOTT
DR INDIRA PARGASS
AS WE ARE entering the Christmas season with all its festivities, let’s keep in mind some important safety tips for our furry and feathered family members. Yes, we know as part of your family you want to include them in all the activities of this joyous time, but we need to be careful of what we expose them to – the food and drinks, the decorations and new plants, toys left lying about, the loud music, fireworks and visitors.
We need to be proactive because our pets may not be able to resist the urge to steal food from tables or garbage cans, play or chew on decorations and Christmas lights, and eat things they are not supposed to. Here are some holiday tips to keep your pets safe during this season.
Food is a major part of a Trini Christmas. We consume more than we normally do. Who can resist the ham and hops, turkey, the pastelles, the fruit cake and sweets/chocolates? As delicious as these foods are, a lot of them have high fat, salt and sugar content and are not particularly healthy for us, far less for our pets. Pet owners should avoid feeding their pets these rich foods and bones from leftover dishes.
The rich fatty foods such as the fat trimmings and skin could cause an upset stomach and even pancreatitis (a painful and potentially fatal condition) in dogs and cats. Signs to look out for are vomiting, diarrhoea, not eating, painful abdomen and lethargy.
Bones could become stuck along the digestive tract or the windpipe causing suffocation. The bones could also splint easily, producing sharp edges that can damage the digestive tract. If any blockage or damage occurs, your pet may exhibit vomiting, not eating and bloody stool.
Ingestion of new foods could also cause allergic reactions; signs include excessive scratching, hives and facial swelling. Make sure animals do not have access to the garbage, as they might help themselves to the leftover scraps of food.
Moderation is key for both us and our pets.
Other foods that are extremely harmful to your pets are alcohol, chocolate (especially for baking and dark chocolate), xylitol (which is an artificial sweetener and found in some sugar-free candies and gum, and some peanut butters), onions, garlic, chives, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts.
Cats and young animals are mischievous and like to play and chew on things. The Christmas decorations, the tree including ornaments, lights and tinsel, and ribbon on gifts might look like easy-to-catch shiny prey for cats. Children’s toys tend to be irresistible to young animals and some naughty adult dogs. If these objects are ingested, foreign body obstructions and damage to the digestive tract can occur. Electrical burns and fatal electrical shocks could occur if the decorative lights are chewed on.
A few other objects that can potentially cause obstructions and damage to the digestive tract are batteries, potpourris and wrapping paper. Batteries, when swallowed, can cause obstructions and if punctured can leak caustic material which burns the mouth, throat, stoma
