Abshier Meuth Animal Hospital

Professional  health care for your pets

8536 North Hwy 146      281-383-3254

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                                                Holiday Pet Tips

                                        

                                           Written by:  Bruce W. Meuth, DVM

With the holidays approaching (and they seem to come earlier every year) we need to remind ourselves of some common pet concerns during these busy times.

During the Halloween through New Years hustle and bustle pets can be at a higher risk for a number of pet maladies.

oChocolate

You have probably heard dogs cannot eat chocolate.

Dogs cannot metabolize chocolate in the same manner as we do.  Chocolate toxicity is common during the holidays and can be mild to severe. Signs of mild toxicity would mainly be nervousness and twitchiness and can be as severe as seizures, coma and death. Preventing exposure is the key. Put the chocolate up.

oToxic Plants

Mistletoe and Poinsettias are especially prevalent around Christmas. There are many other toxic plants we use as ornamentals as well (i.e. Caladiums). Most of our toxic plants have a bitter taste and therefore dogs won’t commonly consume much (but some of our hard headed four-legged friends will). Most cause gastrointestinal upset but signs are not always severe. One specific and extremely toxic plant is the Sago Palm. All parts of the Sago Palm are toxic and can cause severe liver disease and death.

oPancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a severe inflammation of the pancreas and is very common in dogs. It most often occurs when a dog eats “stuff it should not eat.” Usually this is a fatty meal (but not always). Meat scraps and oil for frying turkeys are common culprits. Pancreatitis can be costly to treat and can be severe enough to cause death. Again, prevention is the key. Avoid exposure.

oForeign Body Ingestion

Dogs and cats are drawn to different and shiny things. Our pets will eat tree ornaments and tinsel. These products can cause intestinal obstruction requiring surgery.

oCold Weather

Every year, I get calls asking how cold can it get before I bring my dog in. How cold is too cold? The answer is not simple. Some dogs are more tolerant to cold or have a thicker coat or have a better doghouse. Always err on the side of caution. My personal dogs come in if the temperature gets below about 50° degrees. These dogs are acclimated to outside weather. Your dog may be less tolerant to the cold. Windbreaks, shelter and bedding all play a role. You don’t want your baby freezing outside while your warm and toasty.